SILVER  PITCHERS: 


AND 


INDEPENDENCE,  , 

&  Centennial  ilobe  Storg* 


BY  LOUISA  MALCOTT, 

MTTHOR  OF  "LITTLE  WOMHN,"  "AN  OLD-FASHIONED  GIRL,"  "LITTLE  MEN," 
"  EIGHT  COUSINS,"  "  WORK,"  "  HOSPITAL  SKELCHES,"  ETC. 


BOSTON: 
ROBERTS      BROTHERS. 

1890. 


Copyright, 

BY  LOUISA  M.   ALCOTT. 
>876,  , 


UNIVERSITY  PRESS:  JOHN  WILSON  &  SON, 
CAMBRIDGE. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

SILVER  PITCHERS 1 

ANNA'S  WHIM 47 

TRANSCENDENTAL  WILD  OATS 79 

THE  ROMANCE  OF  A  SUMMER  DAY 102 

MY  Rococo  WATCH 136 

BY  THE  RIVER 149 

LETTY'S  TRAMP        177 

SCARLET  STOCKINGS 205 

INDEPENDENCE  :  A  CENTENNIAL  LOVE  STORY     .    .  237 


M88966 


SILVER    PITCHERS, 


CHAPTER  I:  • 
HOW   IT   BEGAN. 

*  T/fS'E  can  do  nothing  about  it  except  show  our 
displeasure  in  some  proper  manner,"  said 
Portia,  in  her  most  dignified  tone. 

"  I  should  like  to  cut  them  all  dead  for  a  year  to 
come  ;  and  I'm  not  sure  that  I  won't ! "  cried  Pauline, 
fiercely. 

"  We  ought  to  make  it  impossible  for  such  a  thing 
to  happen  again,  and  I  think  we  might"  added  Pris- 
cilla,  so  decidedly  that  the  others  looked  at  her  in  sur 
prise. 

The  three  friends  sat  by  the  fire  "talking  things 
over,"  as  girls  love  to  do.  Pretty  creatures,  all  of  them, 
as  they  nestled  together  on  the  lounge  in  dressing- 
gowns  and  slippers,  with  unbound  hair,  eyes  still  bright 
with  excitement,  and  tongues  that  still  wagged  briskly. 

Usually  the  chat  was  of  dresses,  compliments,  and 
all  the  little  adventures  that  befall  gay  girls  at  a  merry 
making.  But  to-night  something  of  uncommon  inter 
est  absorbed  the  three,  and  kept  them  talking  earnestly 
long  after  they  should  have  been  asleep. 

Handsome  Portia  looked  out  from  her  blonde  locks 
with  a  disgusted  expression,  as  she  sipped  the  chocolate 


2  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

thoughtful  mamma  had  left  inside  the  fender.  Rosy- 
faced  Pauline  sat  staring  indignantly  at  the  fire ;  while 
in  gteHtla  PriscilJa's  soft  eyes  the  shadow  of  a  real  sor 
row  $se'Qmed  to  mingle  with  the  light  of  a  strong  deter 
mination, 

'  Yefej'.sorne'ch'ing  had  happened  at  this  Thanksgiving 
festival  which  much  offended  the  three  friends,  and  de 
manded  grave  consideration  on  their  part;  for  the 
"  Sweet  P's,"  as  Portia,  Pris,  and  Polly  were  called, 
were  the  belles  of  the  town.  One  ruled  by  right  of 
beauty  and  position,  one  by  the  power  of  a  character 
so  sweet  and  strong  that  its  influence  was  widely  felt, 
and  one  by  the  wit  and  winsomeness  of  a  high  yet 
generous  spirit. 

It  had  been  an  unusually  pleasant  evening,  for  after 
the  quilting  bee  in  the  afternoon  good  Squire  Allen 
had  given  a  bountiful  supper,  and  all  the  young  folks 
of  the  town  had  joined  in  the  old-fashioned  games, 
which  made  the  roof  ring  with  hearty  merriment. 

All  would  have  gone  well  if  some  one  had  not  pri 
vately  introduced  something  stronger  than  the  cider 
provided  by  the  Squire,  —  a  mysterious  and  potent 
something,  which  caused  several  of  the  young  men  to 
betray  that  they  were  decidedly  the  worse  for  their 
libations. 

That  was  serious  enough ;  but  the  crowning  iniquity 
was  the  putting  of  brandy  into  the  coffee,  which  it  was 
considered  decorous  for  the  young  girls  to  prefer  instead 
of  cider 

Who  the  reprobates  were  remained  a  dead  secret,  fo: 
the  young  men  laughed  off  the  dreadful  deed  as  a  joke 
and  the  Squire  apologized  in  the  handsomest  manner. 


HOW  IT  BEGAN.  3 

l$ut  the  girls  felt  much  aggrieved  and  would  not  be 
appeased,  though  the  elders  indulgently  said,  "  Young 
men  will  be  young  men,"  even  while  they  shook  their 
heads  over  the  pranks  played  and  the  nonsense  spoken 
under  the  influence  of  the  wine  that  had  been  so  slyly 
drank. 

Now  what  should  be  done  about  it  ?  The  "  Sweet 
P's  "  knew  that  their  mates  would  look  to  them  for  guid 
ance  at  this  crisis,  for  they  were  the  leaders  in  all  things. 
So  they  must  decide  on  some  line  of  conduct  for  all  to 
adopt,  as  the  best  way  of  showing  their  disapproval  of 
such  practical  jokes. 

When  Pris  spoke,  the  others  looked  at  her  with  sur 
prise  ;  for  there  was  a  new  expression  in  her  face,  and 
both  asked  wonderingly,  "  How  ?  " 

"  There  are  several  ways,  and  we  must  decide  which 
is  the  best.  One  is  to  refuse  invitations  to  the  sociable 
next  week." 

"But  I've  just  got  a  lovely  new  dress  expressly  for 
it ! "  cried  Portia,  tragically. 

"  Then  we  might  decline  providing  any  supper,"  be 
gan  Pris. 

"  That  wouldn't  prevent  the  boys  from  providing  it, 
and  I  never  could  get  through  the  night  without  a 
morsel  of  something ! "  exclaimed  Polly,  who  loved  to 
Bee  devoted  beings  bending  before  her,  with  offerings 
of  ice,  or  struggling  manfully  to  steer  a  glass  of  lemon 
ade  through  a  tumultuous  sea  of  silk  and  broadcloth, 
feeling  well  repaid  by  a  word  or  smile  from  her  when 
they  landed  safely. 

"True,  and  it  would  be  rather  rude  and  resentful; 
for  I  am  sure  they  will  be  models  of  deportment  next 


4  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

time,"  and  gentle  Pris  showed  signs  of  relenting,  though 
that  foolish  joke  had  cost  her  more  than  either  of  the 
others. 

For  a  moment  all  sat  gazing  thoughtfully  at  the  fire, 
trying  to  devise  some  awful  retribution  for  the  sinners, 
no  part  of  which  should  fall  upon  themselves.  Sud 
denly  Polly  clapped  her  hands,  crying  with  a  trium 
phant  air, — 

"  I've  got  it,  girls !     I've  got  it ! " 

«  What  ?     How  ?     Tell  us  quick !  " 

"We  will  refuse  to  go  to  the  first  sociable,  and  that 
will  make  a  tremendous  impression,  for  half  the  nice 
girls  will  follow  our  lead,  and  the  boys  will  be  in  de 
spair.  Every  one  will  ask  why  we  are  not  there ;  and 
what  can  those  poor  wretcL  es  say  but  the  truth  ?  Won't 
that  be  a  bitter  pill  for  my  lords  and  gentlemen?" 

"  It  will  certainly  be  one  to  us,"  said  Portia,  thinking 
of  the  "  heavenly  blue  dress  "  with  a  pang. 

"  Wait  a  bit ;  our  turn  will  come  at  the  next  sociable. 
To  this  we  can  go  with  escorts  of  our  own  choosing,  or 
none  at  all,  for  they  are  free  and  easy  affairs,  you  know. 
So  we  need  be  under  no  obligation  to  any  of  those 
sinners,  and  can  trample  upon  them  as  much  as  we 
please." 

"  But  how  about  the  games,  the  walks  home,  and  all 
the  pleasant  little  services  the  young  men  of  our  set 
like  to  offer  and  we  to  receive  ?  "  asked  Portia,  who  had 
grown  up  with  these  "  boys,"  as  Polly  called  them,  and 
found  it  hard  to  turn  her  back  on  the  playmates  who 
had  now  become  friends  or  lovers. 

"  Bless  me !  I  forgot  that  the  feud  might  last  more 
than  onu  evening.  Give  me  an  idea,  Pris,"  and  Polly's 
triumph  ended  suddenly. 


HOW  IT  BEGAN.  5 

"  I  will,"  answered  Pris,  soberly ;  *'  for  at  this  in 
formal  sociable  we  can  institute  a  new  order  of  things. 
It  will  make  a  talk,  but  I  think  we  have  a  right  to  dc 
it,  and  I'm  sure  it  will  have  a  good  effect,  if  we  only 
hold  out,  and  don't  mind  being  laughed  at.  Let  us 
refuse  to  associate  with  the  young  men  whom  we  know 
to  be  what  is  called  '  gay,'  and  accept  as  friends  those 
of  whose  good  habits  we  are  sure.  If  they  complain, 
as  of  course  they  will,  we  can  say  their  own  miscon 
duct  made  it  necessary,  and  there  we  have  them." 

"  But,  Pris,  who  ever  heard  of  such  an  idea  ?  People 
will  say  all  sorts  of  things  about  us!"  said  Portia, 
rather  startled  at  the  proposition. 

"Let  them!  I  say  it's  a  grand  plan,  and  I'll  stand 
by  you,  Pris,  through  thick  and  thin  ! "  cried  Polly, 
who  enjoyed  the  revolutionary  spirit  of  the  thing. 

"  We  can  but  try  it,  and  give  the  young  men  a  lesson ; 
for,  girls,  matters  are  coming  to  a  pass,  when  it  is  our 
duty  to  do  something.  I  cannot  think  it  is  right  for  us 
to  sit  silent  and  see  these  fine  fellows  getting  into  bad 
habits  because  no  one  dares  or  cares  to  speak  out, 
though  we  gossip  and  complain  in  private." 

"  Do  you  want  us  to  begin  a  crusade  ?  "  asked  Portia, 
uneasily. 

"Yes,  in  the  only  way  we  girls  can  do  it.  We  can't 
preach  and  pray  in  streets  and  bar-rooms,  but  we  may 
at  home,  and  in  our  own  little  world  show  that  we  want 
to  use  our  influence  for  good.  I  know  that  you  two 
can  do  any  thing  you  choose  with  the  young  people  in 
this  town,  and  it  is  just  that  set  who  most  need  the  sort 
of  help  you  can  give,  if  you  will." 

"  You  have  more  influence  than  both  of  us  put  to- 


6  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

gether ;  so  don't  be  modest,  Pris,  but  tell  us  what  to  do, 
and  I'll  do  it,  even  if  I'm  hooted  at,"  cried  warm-hearted 
Polly,  won  at  once. 

"  You  must  do  as  you  think  right ;  but  I  have  made 
up  my  mind  to  protest  against  wine-drinking  in  every 
way  I  can.  I  know  it  will  cost  me  much,  for  I  have 
nothing  to  depend  upon  but  the  good  opinion  of  my 
friends ;  nevertheless,  I  shall  do  what  seems  my  duty, 
and  I  may  be  able  to  save  some  other  girl  from  the 
heart-aches  I  have  known." 

"  You  won't  lose  our  good  opinion,  you  dear  little 
saint !  Just  tell  us  how  to  begin  and  we  will  follow  our 
leader,"  cried  both  Portia  and  Polly,  fired  with  emula 
tion  by  their  friend's  quiet  resolution. 

Pris  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  and,  seeing  real 
love  and  confidence  in  their  faces,  was  moved  to  deepen 
the  impression  she  had  made,  by  telling  them  the  sad 
secret  of  her  life.  Pressing  her  hands  tightly  together, 
and  drooping  her  head,  she  answered  in  words  that  were 
the  more  pathetic  for  their  brevity,  — 

"  Dear  girls,  don't  think  me  rash  or  sentimental,  for 
I  knoio  what  I  am  trying  to  do,  and  you  will  under 
stand  my  earnestness  better  when  I  tell  you  that  a  ter 
rible  experience  taught  me  to  dread  this  appetite  more 
than  death.  It  killed  my  father,  broke  mother's  heart, 
and  left  me  all  alone." 

As  she  paused,  poor  Pris  hid  her  face  and  shrank 
away,  as  if  by  this  confession  she  had  forfeited  her  place 
in  the  respect  of  her  mates.  But  the  girlish  hearta 
only  clung  the  closer  to  her,  and  proved  the  sincerity 
of  their  affection  by  sympathetic  tears  and  tender  words, 
as  Portia  and  Polly  held  her  fast,  making  a  prettier 


flOW  IT  BEGAN.  7 

group  than  the  marble  nymphs  on  the  mantelpiece; 
for  the  Christian  graces  quite  outdid  the  heathen  ones. 

Polly  spoke  first,  and  spoke  cheerfully,  feeling,  with 
the  instinct  of  a  fine  nature,  that  Priscilla's  grief  was 
too  sacred  to  be  talked  about,  and  that  they  could  bes* 
show  their  appreciation  of  her  confidence  by  proving 
themselves  ready  to  save  others  from  a  sorrow  like 
hers. 

"  Let  us  be  a  little  society  of  three,  and  do  what  we 
.jan.  I  shall  begin  at  home,  and  watch  over  brother 
.NTed ;  for  lately  he  has  been  growing  away  from  me* 
somehow,  and  I'm  afraid  he  is  beginning  to  be  'gay.' 
J  shall  get  teased  unmercifully ;  but  I  won't  mind  if  1 
keep  him  safe." 

"  I  have  no  one  at  home  to  watch  over  but  papa,  and 
he  is  in  no  danger,  of  course ;  so  I  shall  show  Charley 
Lord  that  I  am  not  pleased  with  him,"  said  Portia,  little 
dreaming  where  her  work  was  to  be  done. 

"  And  you  will  set  about  reforming  that  delightful 
scapegrace,  Phil  Butler  ?  "  added  Polly,  peeping  archly 
into  the  still  drooping  face  of  Pris. 

"  I  have  lost  my  right  to  do  it,  for  I  told  him  to-night 
that  love  and  respect  must  go  together  in  my  heart," 
and  Pris  wiped  her  wet  eyes  with  a  hand  that  no  longer 
wore  a  ring. 

Portia  and  Polly  looked  at  one  another  in  dismay, 
for  by  this  act  Pris  proved  how  thoroughly  in  earnest 
she  was. 

Neither  Lad  any  words  of  comfort  for  so  great  a 
trouble,  and  sat  silently  caressing  her,  till  Pris  looked 
up,  with  her  own  serene  smile  again,  and  said,  as  if  to 
change  the  current  of  their  thoughts,  — 


SILVER   PITCHERS. 

•'  We  must  have  a  badge  for  the  members  of  our  new 
society,  so  let  us  each  wear  one  of  these  tiny  silver 
pitchers.  I've  lost  the  mate  to  mine,  but  Portia  has  a 
pair  just  like  them*  You  can  divide,  then  we  are  all 
provided  for." 

Portia  ran  to  her  jewel-case,  caught  up  a  pair  of 
delicate  filigree  ear-rings,  hastily  divided  a  narrow  velvet 
ribbon  into  three  parts,  attached  to  each  a  silver  pitcher, 
and,  as  the  friends  smilingly  put  on  these  badges,  they 
pledged  their  loyalty  to  the  new  league  by  a  silent 
good-night  kiss. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

GREAT  was  the  astonishment  of  their  "  set "  when  it 
was  known  that  the  "  Sweet  P's "  had  refused  all  in 
vitations  to  the  opening  sociable. 

The  young  men  were  in  despair,  the  gossips  talked 
themselves  hoarse  discussing  the  affair,  and  the  girls 
exulted  ;  for,  as  Polly  predicted,  the  effect  of  their  first 
step  was  "tremendous." 

When  the  evening  came,  however,  by  one  accord 
they  met  in  Portia's  room,  to  support  each  other 
through  that  trying  period.  They  affected  to  be  quite 
firm  and  cheerful ;  but  one  after  the  other  broke  down, 
and  sadly  confessed  that  the  sacrifice  to  principle  was 
harder  than  they  expected.  What  added  to  their 


A   DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.          9 

anguish  was  the  fact  that  the  Judge's  house  stood  just 
opposite  the  town-hall,  and  every  attempt  to  keep  away 
from  certain  windows  proved  a  dead  failure. 

"It  is  so  trying  to  see  those  girls  go  in  with  their 
dresses  bundled  up,  and  not  even  know  what  they 
wear,"  mourned  Portia,  watching  shrouded  figures  trip 
up  the  steps  that  led  to  the  paradise  from  which  she 
had  exiled  herself. 

"  They  must  be  having  a  capital  time,  for  every  one 
seems  to  have  gone.  I  wonder  who  Phil  took,"  sighed 
Pris,  when  at  length  the  carriages  ceased  to  roll. 

"  Girls !  I  wish  to  be  true  to  my  vow,  but  if  you  don't 
hold  me  I  shall  certainly  rush  over  there  and  join  in 
the  fun,  for  that  music  is  too  much  for  me,"  cried  Polly, 
desperately,  as  the  singing  began. 

It  was  an  endless  evening  to  the  three  pretty  pioneers, 
though  they  went  early  to  bed,  and  heroically  tried  to 
sleep  with  that  distracting  music  in  their  ears.  Slumber 
came  at  last,  but  as  the  clocks  were  striking  twelve  a 
little  ghost  emerged  from  Portia's  room,  and  gliding 
to  the  hall  window  vanished  among  the  heavy  damask 
curtains. 

Presently  another  little  ghost  appeared  from  the  same 
quarter,  and  stealing  softly  to  the  same  window  was 
about  to  vanish  in  the  same  capacious  draperies,  when 
a  stifled  cry  was  heard,  and  Portia,  the  second  sprite, 
exclaimed  in  an  astonished  whisper,  — 

"  Why,  Pris,  are  you  here,  too  ?  I  saw  Polly  creep 
away  from  me,  and  came  to  take  her  back.  How  dare 
you  go  wandering  about  and  startling  me  out  of  my 
wits  in  this  way  ?  " 

"  I  was   only   looking   to   see   if  it    was   all   over,'1 


10  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

quavered  Pris,  meekly,  emerging  from  the  right-hand 
curtain. 

"  So  was  I ! "  laughed  Polly,  bouncing  out  from  the 
left-hand  one. 

There  was  a  sound  of  soft  merriment  in  that  shadowy 
hall  for  a  moment,  and  then  the  spirits  took  a  look  at 
the  world  outside,  for  the  moon  was  shining  brightly. 
Yes,  the  fun  was  evidently  over,  for  the  lamps  were 
being  extinguished,  and  several  young  men  stood  on 
the  steps  exchanging  last  words.  One  wore  a  cloak 
theatrically  thrown  over  the  shoulder,  and  Polly  knew 
him  at  once. 

"  That's  Ned !  I  must  hear  what  they  are  saying. 
Keep  quiet  and  I'll  listen,"  she  whispered,  rolling  her 
self  in  the  dark  folds  of  the  curtain  and  opening  the 
window  a  crack,  so  that  a  frosty  breeze  could  blow 
freely  into  her  left  ear. 

"  You'll  get  your  death,"  murmured  Portia,  shivering 
In  her  quilted  wrapper. 

"  O,  never  mind!"  cried  Pris,  who  recognized  the 
tallest  man  in  the  group,  and  was  wild  to  catch  a  word 
from  "  poor  Phil." 

"They  think  they've  done  a  fine  thing;  but,  bless 
their  little  hearts,  we'll  show  that  we  can  do  without 
them  by  riot  asking  them  to  the  next  sociable,  or  taking 
notice  of  them  if  they  go.  That  will  bring  them  round 
without  fail,"  said  one  masculine  voice,  with  a  jolly 
laugh. 

"  Many  thanks  for  letting  us  know  your  plots,  Mr. 
Lord.  Now  we  can  arrange  a  nice  little  surprise  for 
you?  and  Portia  made  a  scornful  courtesy  in  the  dark. 

"Faith  !  I  don't  blame  the  girls  much,  for  that  was 


A  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.       11 

a  confoundedly  ungentleraanly  trick  of  yours,  and  I'll 
thank  you  not  to  lay  any  of  the  blame  of  it  on  me ;  I've 
got  as  much  as  I  can  carry  without  that,"  said  the  tall 
figure,  stalking  away  alone. 

"  Tm  so  glad  to  know  that  Phil  had  nothing  to  do 
with  it ! "  breathed  Pris,  gratefully. 

"  Come  on,  Charley !  I  must  get  home  as  soon  as 
possible,  or  Polly  will  be  down  on  me,  for  she  Las 
taken  a  new  tack  lately,  and  holds  forth  on  the  error 
of  my  ways  like  a  granny." 

"  Won't  I  give  Ned  an  extra  lecture  fbr  that  speech, 
the  rascal ! "  and  Polly  shook  a  small  fist  at  him  as  her 
brother  passed  under  the  window,  blissfully  unconscious 
of  the  avenging  angels  up  aloft. 

"'Tis  well;  let  us  away  and  take  sweet  counsel  how 
we  may  annihilate  them,"  added  Polly,  melodramati 
cally,  as  the  three  ghosts  vanished  from  the  glimpses  of 
the  moon. 

Every  one  turned  out  to  the  sociables,  for  they  were 
town  affairs,  and  early  hours,  simple  suppers,  and  games 
of  all  sorts,  made  it  possible  for  old  and  young  to  enjoy 
them  together. 

On  the  night  of  the  second  one  there  was  a  goodly 
gathering,  for  the  public  rebuke  administered  to  the 
young  men  had  made  a  stir,  and  everybody  was  cuiious 
to  see  what  th^  consequences  would  be  when  the 
parties  met. 

There  was  a  sensation,  therefore,  when  a  whisper 
went  round  that  the  "  Sweet  P's "  had  come,  and  a 
general  smile  of  wonder  and  amusement  appeared  when 
the  girls  entered,  Portia  on  the  arm  of  her  father,  Polly 
gallantly  escorted  by  her  twelve-year-old  brother  "Will, 


12  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

and  Pris  beside  Belinda  Chamberlain,  whose  five  feet 
seven  made  her  a  capital  cavalier. 

"  Outwitted ! "  laughed  Charley  Lord,  taking  the 
joke  at  once  as  he  saw  Portia's  gray-headed  squire. 

"  I  knew  Polly  was  plotting  mischief,  she  has  been 
so  quiet  lately,"  muttered  Ned,  eying  his  little  brother 
with  lofty  scorn. 

Phil  said  nothing,  but  he  gave  a  sigh  of  relief  on 
seeing  that  Pris  had  chosen  an  escort  of  whom  it  was 
impossible  to  be  jealous. 

The  Judge  seldom  honored  these  gatherings,  but 
Portia  ruled  papa,  and  when  she  explained  the  peculiar 
state  of  things,  he  had  heroically  left  his  easy  chair  to 
cast  himself  into  the  breach. 

Master  Will  was  in  high  feather  at  his  sudden  pro 
motion,  and  bore  himself  gallantly,  though  almost  as 
much  absorbed  by  his  wristbands  as  Mr.  Toots ;  for 
Polly  had  got  him  up  regardless  of  expense,  with  a 
gay  tie,  new  gloves,  and,  O,  crowning  splendor !  a  red 
carnation  in  his  button-hole. 

Buxom  Belinda  was  delighted  with  the  chance  to 
play  cavalier,  and  so  get  her  fair  share  of  all  the  fun 
going,  for  usually  she  stood  in  a  corner  smiling  at  an 
unappreciative  world,  like  a  patient  sunflower. 

The  faces  of  the  young  men  were  a  study  as  the 
games  began,  and  the  three  girls  joined  in  them  with 
the  partners  they  had  chosen. 

"  The  Judge  is  evidently  on  his  mettle,  but  he  can't 
stand  that  sort  of  thing  long,  even  to  please  Portia; 
and  then  her  Majesty  will  have  to  give  in,  or  condescend 
to  some  one  out  of  our  set,"  thought  Charley  Lord,  long 
ing  already  to  be  taken  into  favor  again. 


A   DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.        IB 

"  Polly  will  have  to  come  and  ask  me  to  lead,  if  she 
wants  to  sing  her  favorite  songs ;  for  I'll  be  hanged  if  I 
do  it  till  she  has  humbled  herself  by  asking,"  said  Ned, 
feeling  sure  that  his  sister  would  soon  relent. 

"  If  it  was  any  one  but  Belinda,  I  don't  think  1 
could  stand  it,"'  exclaimed  Phil,  as  he  watched  his 
lust  sweetheart  with  wistful  eyes ;  for,  though  he  sub 
mitted  to  the  sentence  which  he  knew  he  deserved,  he 
could  not  relinquish  so  much  excellence  without  deep 
regret. 

But  the  young  men  underrated  the  spirit  of  the  girls, 
and  overrated  their  own  strength.  The  "  Sweet  P's " 
went  on  enjoying  themselves,  apparently  quite  indiffer 
ent  to  the  neglect  of  their  once  devoted  friends.  But 
to  the  outcasts  it  was  perfectly  maddening  to  see 
stately  Portia  promenading  with  stout  Major  Quacken- 
boss,  who  put  his  best  foot  foremost  with  the  air  of  a 
conquering  hero;  also  to  behold  sweet  Pris  playing 
games  with  her  little  pupils  in  a  way  that  filled  their 
small  souls  with  rapture.  But  the  most  aggravating 
spectacle  of  all  was  captivating  Polly,  chatting  gayly 
with  young  Farmer  Brown,  who  was  evidently  losing 
both  head  and  heart  in  the  light  of  her  smiles. 

"  It's  no  use,  boys ;  I  must  have  one  turn  with  Portia, 
and  you  may  hang  me  for  a  traitor  immediately  after 
ward,"  cried  Charley  at  last,  recklessly  casting  both 
pride  and  promise  to  the  winds. 

"  (),  very  well ;  if  you  are  going  to  give  in,  we  may 
as  well  all  eat  humble  pie  « together,'  "  and  Ned  imitated 
his  weak-minded  friend,  glad  of  an  excuse  to  claim  the 
leadership  of  the  little  choir  wto  led  off  the  weekly 
"sing." 


14  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

Phil  dared  not  follow  their  example  as  far  as  Pria 
was  concerned,  but  made  his  most  elegant  bow  to 
Belinda,  and  begged  to  have  the  honor  of  seeing  her 
home.  His  chagrin  may  be  imagined  when  the  lofty 
wall-flower  replied,  with  a  significant  emphasis  thai 
made  his  face  burn, — 

"  Xo,  thank  you.  I  need  a  very  steady  escort,  for  I 
shouldn't  take  a  fall  into  a  snow-bank  as  lightly  as  Pris 
did  not  long  ago." 

Charley  met  with  a  like  fate  at  Portia's  hands,  foi 
she  outraged  established  etiquette  by  coldly  declin 
ing  his  meek  invitation  to  promenade,  and  two  minutes 
later  graciously  accepting  that  of  an  unfashionable 
young  man,  who  was  known  to  belong  to  a  temperance 
lodge. 

But  Ned's  repulse  was  the  most  crushing  of  all,  for 
in  reply  to  his  condescending  hint, — 

"  I  suppose  people  won't  be  satisfied  unless  we  give 
them  our  favorites,  hey,  Polly?"  he  received  a  verbal 
box  on  the  ear  in  the  sharp  answer,  — 

;'  We  don't  want  you,  for  I  intend  to  lead  myself, 
and  introduce  a  new  set  of  songs  which  won't  be  at  all 
to  your  taste." 

Then,  to  his  utter  amazement  and  confusion,  Miss 
Polly  began  to  sing  one  of  the  good  old  temperance 
songs,  the  burden  whereof  was, — 

"0,  that  will  be  joyful,  joyful,  joyful, 

0,  that  will  be  joyful, 
When  young  men  drink  no  more  ' " 

It  was  taken  up  all  over  the  hall,  and  the  chorus 
rang  out  with  an  energy  that  caused  sundry  young 


A  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.        15 

men  to  turn  red  and  dodge  behind  any  capacious  back 
they  could  find,  for  every  one  understood  Polly's  motive, 
and  looked  approvingly  upon  her  as  she  stood  singing, 
with  an  occasional  quiver  in  the  voice  that  usually  was 
as  clear  and  sweet  as  a  blackbird's. 

This  unexpected  manoeuvre  on  the  part  of  the  fair 
enemy  produced  direful  perplexity  and  dismay  in  the 
opposing  camp,  whither  the  discomfited  trio  fled  with 
tidings  of  their  defeat.  None  of  them  dared  try  again 
in  that  quarter,  but  endeavored  to  console  themselves 
by  flirting  wildly  with  such  girls  as  still  remained  avail 
able,  for,  sad  to  relate,  many  of  the  most  eligible  took 
courage  and  followed  the  example  of  the  "  Sweet  P's." 
This  fact  cast  added  gloom  over  the  hapless  gentlemen 
of  the  offending  set,  and  caused  them  to  fear  that  a 
social  revolution  would  follow  what  they  had  con 
sidered  merely  a  girlish  freak. 

"  Shouldn't  wonder  if  they  got  up  a  praying-band 
after  this,"  groaned  Ned,  preparing  himself  for  the 
strongest  measures. 

"  Portia  had  better  lead  off,  then,  for  the  first  time 
I  indulged  too  freely  in  the  4rosy'  was  at  her  father's 
house,"  added  Charley,  laying  all  the  blame  of  his  ex 
pulsion  from  Eden  upon  Eve,  like  a  true  Adam. 

"Look  here,  boys,  we  ought  to  thank,  not  blame 
them,  for  they  want  to  help  us,  I'm  sure,  and  some  of 
us  need  help,  God  knows ! "  sighed  Phil,  with  a  look 
and  tone  that  made  his  comrades  forget  their  pique  in 
sudden  self-reproach;  for  not  one  of  them  could  deny 
his  words,  or  help  feeling  that  the  prayers  of  such  inno 
cent  souls  would  avail  much. 


16  SILVEE  PITCHERS. 

CHAPTER  III. 
WHAT  PORTIA    DID. 

"  I  KNOW  your  head  aches,  mamma,  so  lie  here  and 
rest  while  I  sit  in  my  little  chair  and  amuse  you  till 
papa  comes  in." 

As  Portia  bent  to  arrange  the  sofa-cushions  com 
fortably,  the  tiny  silver  pitcher  hanging  at  her  neck 
swung  forward  and  caught  her  mother's  eye. 

"Is  it  the  latest  fashion  to  wear  odd  ear-rings  instead 
of  lockets  ?  "  she  asked,  touching  the  delicate  trinket 
with  an  amused  smile. 

"  No,  mamma,  it  is  something  better  than  a  fashion ; 
it  is  the  badge  of  a  temperance  league  that  Pris,  Polly, 
and  I  have  lately  made,"  answered  Portia,  wondering 
how  her  mother  would  take  it. 

"  Dear  little  girls !  God  bless  and  help  you  in  your 
good  work !  "  was  the  quick  reply,  that  both  surprised 
and  touched  her  by  its  fervency. 

"  Then  you  don't  mind,  or  think  us  silly  to  try  and 
do  even  a  very  little  towards  curing  this  great  evil  ?  M 
she  asked,  with  a  sweet  seriousness  that  was  new  and 
most  becoming  to  her. 

"  My  child,  I  feel  as  if  it  was  a  special  providence," 
began  her  mother,  then  checked  herself  and  added 
more  quietly,  "Tell  me  all  about  this  league,  dear, 
unless  it  is  a  secret." 

"  I  have  no  secrets  from  you,  mother,"  and  nestling 
Into  her  low  chair  Portia  told  her  story,  ending  with 


WHAT  PORTIA   DID.  17 

an  earnestness  that  showed  how  much  she  had  the  new 
plan  at  heart. 

"  So  you  see  Polly  is  trying  to  keep  Ned  safe,  and 
Pris  prays  for  Phil ;  not  in  vain,  I  think,  for  he  has 
been  very  good  lately,  they  tell  me.  But  I  have 
neither  brother  nor  lover  to  help,  and  I  cannot  go  out 
to  find  any  one,  because  I  am  only  a  girl.  Now  what 
can  I  do,  mamma,  for  I  truly  want  to  do  my  share  ?  " 

The  mother  lay  silent  for  a  moment,  then,  as  if  yield 
ing  to  an  irresistible  impulse,  drew  her  daughter 
nearer,  and  whispered  with  lips  that  trembled  as  they 
spoke,  — 

"  You  can  help  your  father,  dear." 

"  Mamma,  what  can  you  mean  ?  "  cried  Portia,  in  a 
tone  of  indignant  surprise. 

"  Listen  patiently,  child,  or  I  shall  regret  that  your 
confidence  inspired  me  with  courage  to  give  you  mine. 
Never  think  for  one  moment  that  I  accuse  my  husband 
of  any  thing  like  drunkenness.  He  has  always  taken 
his  wine  like  a  gentleman,  and  never  more  than  was 
good  for  him  till  of  late.  For  this  there  are  many 
excuses ;  he  is  growing  old,  his  life  is  less  active  than 
it  was,  many  of  the  pleasures  he  once  enjoyed  fail  now, 
and  he  has  fallen  into  ways  that  harm  his  health." 

"I  know,  mamma;  he  doesn't  care  for  company  as 
he  used  to,  or  business,  either,  but  seems  quite  con 
tented  to  sit  among  his  papers  half  the  morning,  and 
doze  over  the  fire  half  the  evening.  I've  wondered  at 
it,  for  he  is  not  really  old,  and  looks  as  hale  and  hand 
some  as  ever/'  said  Portia,  feeling  that  something  hov 
ered  on  her  mother's  lips  which  she  found  it  hard  tc 
alter. 

2 


18  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

"  You  are  right ;  it  is  not  age  alone  that  makes  him 
BO  unlike  his  once  cheerful,  active  self;  it  is  —  bend 
lower,  dear,  and  never  breathe  to  any  one  what  I  tell  you 
now,  only  that  you  may  help  me  save  your  father's  life, 
perhaps." 

Startled  by  the  almost  solemn  earnestness  of  these 
words,  Portia  laid  her  head  upon  the  pillow,  and  twi 
light  wrapt  the  room  in  its  soft  gloom,  as  if  to  shut  out 
all  the  world,  while  the  mother  told  the  daughter  the 
langer  that  threatened  him  whom  they  both  so  loved 
and  honored. 

"  Papa  has  fallen  into  the  way  of  taking  more  wine 
after  dinner  than  is  good  for  him.  He  does  not  know 
how  the  habit  is  growing  upon  him,  and  is  hurt  if  1 
hint  at  such  a  thing.  But  Dr.  Hall  warned  me  of  the 
danger  after  papa's  last  ill  turn,  saying  that  at  his  age 
and  with  his  temperament  apoplexy  would  be  sure  to 
follow  over-indulgence  of  this  sort." 

"O  mamma,  what  can  I  do?"  whispered  Portia,, 
with  a  thrill,  as  the  words  of  Pris  returned  to  her  with 
sudden  force,  "It  killed  my  father,  broke  mother's 
heart,  and  left  me  all  alone." 

"  Watch  over  him,  dear,  amuse  him  as  you  only  can, 
and  wean  him  from  this  unsuspected  harm  by  all  the 
innocent  arts  your  daughterly  love  can  devise.  I  have 
kept  this  to  myself,  because  it  is  hard  for  a  wife  to  sec 
any  fault  in  her  husband  ;  still  harder  for  her  to  speak 
of  it  even  to  so  good  a  child  as  mine.  But  my  anxiety 
unfits  me  to  do  all  I  might,  so  I  need  help  ;  and  oi 
whom  can  I  ask  it  but  of  you  ?  My  darling,  make  a 
little  league  with  mother,  and  let  us  watch  and  pray 
in  secret  for  this  dear  man  who  is  all  in  all  to  us." 


WHAT  PORTIA  DID.  19 

What  Portia  answered,  what  comfort  she  gave,  and 
what  further  confidences  she  received,  may  not  be  told, 
for  this  household  covenant  was  too  sacred  for  report. 
No  visible  badge  was  assumed,  no  audible  vow  taken, 
but  in  the  wife's  face,  as  it  smiled  on  her  husband  that 
night,  there  was  a  tenderer  light  than  ever,  and  the 
kiss  that  welcomed  papa  was  the  seal  upon  a  purpose 
as  strong  as  the  daughter's  love. 

Usually  the  ladies  left  the  Judge  to  read  his  paper 
and  take  his  wine  in  the  old-fashioned  way,  while  they 
had  coffee  in  the  drawing-room.  As  they  rose,  Portia 
saw  the  shadow  fall  upon  her  mother's  face,  which  she 
had  often  seen  before,  but  never  understood  till  now ; 
for  this  was  the  dangerous  hour,  this  the  moment  when 
the  child  must  stand  between  temptation  and  her 
father,  if  she  could. 

That  evening,  very  soon  after  the  servant  had 
cleared  the  table  of  all  but  the  decanters,  a  fresh  young 
voice  singing  blithely  in  the  parlor  made  the  Judge 
put  down  his  glass  to  listen  in  pleased  surprise. 

Presently  he  stepped  across  the  hall  to  set  both 
doors  open,  saying,  in  a  half  reproachful  tone, — 

"  Sing  away,  my  lark,  and  let  papa  hear  you,  for  he 
seldom  gets  a  chance  now-a-days." 

"  Then  he  must  stay  and  applaud  me,  else  I  shall 
think  that  speech  only  an  empty  compliment,"  answered 
Portia,  as  she  beckoned  with  her  most  winsome  smile. 

The  Judge  never  dreamed  that  his  good  angel  spoke ; 
but  he  saw  his  handsome  girl  beaming  at  him  from  the 
music  stool,  and  strolled  in,  meaning  to  go  back  when 
the  song  ended. 

But  the  blue  charmer  in  the  parlor   proved  more 


20  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

potent  than  the  red  one  in  the  dining-room,  and  lie 
Bat  on,  placidly  sipping  the  excellent  coffee,  artfully 
supplied  by  his  wife,  quite  unconscious  of  the  little  plot 
to  rob  him  of  the  harmful  indulgence  which  too  often 
made  his  evenings  a  blank,  and  his  mornings  a  vain 
attempt  to  revive  the  spirits  that  once  kept  increasing 
years  from  seeming  burdensome. 

That  was  the  beginning  of  Portia's  home  mission ; 
and  from  that  hour  she  devoted  herself  to  it,  thinking 
of  no  reward,  for  such  "secret  service"  could  receive 
neither  public  sympathy  nor  praise. 

It  was  not  an  easy  task,  as  she  soon  found,  in  spite 
of  the  stanch  and  skilful  ally  who  planned  the  attacks 
she  dutifully  made  upon  the  enemy  threatening  their 
domestic  peace. 

When  music  ceased  to  have  charms,  and  the  Judge 
declared  he  must  get  his  "  forty  winks  "  after  dinner, 
Portia  boldly  declared  that  she  would  stay  and  see  that 
he  had  them  comfortably.  So  papa  laughed  and  sub 
mitted,  took  a  brief  nap,  and  woke  in  such  good-humor 
that  he  made  no  complaint  on  finding  the  daughter 
replacing  the  decanter. 

This  answered  for  a  while ;  and  when  its  effacacy 
seemed  about  to  fail,  unexpected  help  appeared ;  for 
mamma's  eyes  began  to  trouble  her,  and  Portia  pro 
posed  that  her  father  should  entertain  the  invalid  in 
the  evening,  while  she  served  her  through  the  day. 

This  plan  worked  capitally,  for  the  Judge  loved  his 
good  wife  almost  as  much  as  she  deserved,  and  devoted 
himself  to  her  so  faithfully  that  the  effort  proved  a  bet 
ter  stimulant  than  any  his  well-stocked  Cellar  could 
supply. 


WHAT  PORTIA   DID.  21 

Dr.  Hall  prescribed  exercise  and  cheerful  society  for 
his  new  patient,  and  in  seeing  that  these  instructions 
were  obeyed  the  Judge  got  the  benefit  of  them,  and 
found  no  time  for  solitary  wine-bibbing. 

"  I  do  believe  I  'm  growing  young  again,  for  the  old 
dulness  is  quite  gone,  and  all  this  work  and  play  does 
not  seem  to  tire  me  a  bit,"  he  said,  after  an  unusually 
lively  evening  with  the  congenial  guests  Portia  took 
care  to  bring  about  him. 

"  But  it  must  be  ver}  stupid  for  you,  my  dear,  as  we 
old  folks  have  all  the  fun.  Why  don't  you  invite  the 
young  people  here  oftener?"  he  added,  as  his  eye  fell 
on  Portia,  gazing  thoughtfully  into  the  fire. 

"  I  wish  I  dared  tell  you  why,"  she  answered  wist 
fully." 

"  Afraid  of  your  old  papa  ? "  and  he  looked  both 
surprised  and  grieved. 

"  I  won't  be,  for  you  are  the  kindest  father  that  ever 
a  ghi  had,  and  I  know  you'll  help  me,  as  you  always 
do,  papa.  I  don't  dare  ask  my  young  friends  here 
because  I'm  not  willing  to  expose  some  of  them  to 
temptation,"  began  Portia,  bravely. 

"  What  temptation  ?  This  ?  "  asked  her  father,  turn- 
fngher  half-averted  face  to  the  light,  Vith  a  smile  full 
of  paternal  pride. 

"  No,  sir ;  a  far  more  dangerous  one  than  ever  L 
can  be." 

"  Then  I  should  like  to  see  it ! "  and  the  old  gentle 
man  looked  about  him  for  this  rival  of  his  lovely 
daughter. 

"  It  is  these,"  she  said,  pointing  to  the  bottles  and 
glasses  on  the  sideboard. 


22  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

The  Judge  understood  her  then,  and  knit  his  brows 
but   before  he    could    reply  Portia  went  steadily  on, 
though  her  cheeks  burned,    and   her  eyes  were  bent 
upon  the  fire  again. 

"  Father,  I  belong  to  a  society  of  three,  and  we  have 
promised  to  do  all  we  can  for  temperance.  As  yet  ] 
can  only  show  bravely  the  faith  that  is  in  me ;  there 
fore  I  can  never  oifer  any  friend  of  mine  a  drop  of  wine, 
and  so  I  do  not  ask  them  here,  where  it  would  seem 
most  uncourteous  to  refuse." 

"  I  trust  no  gentleman  ever  had  cause  to  reproach 
me  for  the  hospitality  I  was  taught  to  show  my  guests," 
began  the  Judge,  in  his  most  stately  manner. 

But  he  got  no  further,  for  a  soft  hand  touched  Ins 
lips,  and  Portia  answered  sorrowfully,  — 

"  One  man  has,  sir;  Charley  Lord  says  the  first  time 
he  took  too  much  was  in  this  house,  and  it  has  grieved 
me  to  the  heart,  for  it  is  true.  O  papa,  never  let  any 
one  have  the  right  to  say  that  again  of  us  !  Forgive 
me  if  I  seem  undutiful,  but  I  must  speak  out,  for  I 
want  my  dear  father  to  stand  on  my  side,  and  set  an 
example  which  will  make  me  even  fonder  and  prouder 
of  him  than  I  am  now." 

As  Portia  paused,  half  frightened  at  her  own  frank 
ness,  she  put  her  arms  about  his  neck,  and  hid  her  face 
on  his  breast,  still  pleading  her  cause  with  the  silent 
eloquence  so  hard  to  resist. 

The  Judge  made  no  reply  for  several  minutes,  and 
in  that  pause  many  thoughts  passed  through  his  mind, 
and  a  vague  suspicion  that  had  haunted  him  of  late 
became  a  firm  conviction.  For  suddenly  he  seemed  to 
see  his  own  weakness  in  its  true  light,  to  understand 


WHAT  POLLY  DID.  23 

the  meaning  of  the  watchful  love,  the  patient  care  that 
had  so  silently  and  helpfully  surrounded  him ;  and  in 
Portia's  appeal  for  younger  men,  he  read  a  tender 
warning  to  himself. 

He  was  a  proud  man,  but  a  very  just  one;  and 
though  a  flush  of  anger  swept  across  his  face  at  first,  he 
acknowledged  the  truth  of  the  words  that  were  so  hard 
to  speak. 

With  his  hand  laid  fondly  on  the  head  that  was  half- 
hidden,  lest  a  look  should  seem  to  reproach  him,  this 
brave  old  gentleman  proved  that  he  loved  his  neighbor 
better  than  himself,  and  honestly  confessed  his  own 
shortcomings. 

"No  man  shall  ever  say  again  that  I  tempted  him." 

Then  as  Portia  lifted  up  a  happy  face,  he  looked 
straight  into  the  grateful  eyes  that  dimmed  with  sud 
den  tears,  and  added  tenderly,  — 

"  My  daughter,  I  am  not  too  proud  to  own  a  fault, 
nor,  please  God,  too  old  to  mend  it." 


CHAPTER  IV. 
WHAT  POLLY  DID. 

SINCE  their  mother's  death,  Polly  had  tried  to  fill 
her  place,  and  take  good  care  of  the  boys.  But  the 
poor  little  damsel  had  a  hard  time  of  it  sometimes ;  for 
Ned,  being  a  year  or  two  older,  thought  it  his  duty  to 
emancipate  himself  from  petticoat  government  as  rapidly 


24  SILVER   PITCHERS. 

as  possible,  and  do  as  he  pleased,  regardless  of  her 
warnings  or  advice. 

Yet  at.  heart  he  was  very  fond  of  his  pretty  sister. 
At  times  he  felt  strongly  tempted  to  confide  his  troubles 
and  perplexities  to  her,  for  since  the  loss  of  his  mother 
he  often  longed  for  a  tender,  helpful  creature  to  cheer 
and  strengthen  him. 

Unfortunately  he  had  reached  the  age  when  boys 
consider  it  "  the  thing  "  to  repress  every  sign  of  regard 
for  their  own  women-folk,  sisters  especially;  so  Ned 
barricaded  himself  behind  the  manly  superiority  of  his 
twenty  years,  and  snubbed  Polly. 

Will  had  not  yet  developed  this  unpleasant  trait,  but 
his  sister  expected  it,  and  often  exclaimed,  despairingly, 
to  her  bosom  friends,  — 

"When  he  follows  Ned's  example,  and  begins  to 
rampage,  what  will  become  of  me  ?  " 

The  father  —  a  learned  and  busy  man  —  was  so  oc 
cupied  by  the  duties  of  his  large  parish,  or  so  absorbed 
in  the  ab*stru$e  studies  to  which  his  brief  leisure  was 
devoted,  that  he  had  no  time  left  for  his  children. 
Polly  took  good  care  of  him  and  the  house,  and  the 
boys  seemed  to  be  doing  well,  so  he  went  his  way  in 
peace,  quite  unconscious  that  his  eldest  son  needed  all 
a  father's  care  to  keep  him  from  the  temptations  to 
which  a  social  nature,  not  evil  propensities,  exposed 
him. 

Polly  saw  the  danger,  and  spoke  of  it ;  but  Mr.  Snow 
only  answered  absently,  — 

"  Tut,  tut,  my  dear ;  you  are  over-anxious,  and  forget 
that  young  men  all  have  a  few  wild  oats  to  sow." 

While  Ned  silenced  her  with  that  other  familiar  and 


WHAT  POLLY  DID.  25 

harmful  phrase,  "  I'm  only  seeing  life  a  bit,  so  don't 
you  fret,  child,"  little  dreaming  that  such  "  seeing  life  " 
too  often  ends  in  seeing  death. 

So  Polly  labored  in  vain,  till  something  happened 
which  taught  them  all  a  lesson.  Ned  went  on  a  sleigh 
ing  frolic  with  the  comrades  whom  of  all  others  his 
sister  dreaded  most. 

"  Do  be  careful  and  not  come  home  as  you  did  last 
time,  for  father  will  be  in,  and  it  would  shock  him 
dreadfully  if  I  shouldn't  be  able  to  keep  you  quiet," 
she  said  anxiously. 

"You  little  granny,  I  wasn't  tipsy,  only  cheerful, 
and  that  scared  you  out  of  your  wits.  I've  got  my  key, 
so  don't  sit  up.  I  hate  to  have  a  woman  glowering  at 
me  when  I  come  in,"  was  Ned's  ungracious  reply ;  for 
the  memory  of  that  occasion  was  not  a  pleasant  one. 

"  If  a  woman  had  not  been  sitting  up,  you'd  have 
frozen  on  the  door-mat,  you  ungrateful  boy,"  cried 
Polly,  angrily. 

Ned  began  to  whistle,  and  was  going  off  without  a 
word,  when  Polly's  loving  heart  got  the  better  of  her 
quick  temper,  and,  catching  up  a  splendid  tippet  she 
had  made  for  him,  she  ran  after  her  brother.  She 
caught  him  just  as  he  opened  the  front  door,  and,  throw 
ing  both  her  arms  and  her  gift  about  his  neck,  said, 
with  a  kiss  that  produced  a  sensation  in  the  sleigh-full 
of  gentlemen  at  the  gate,  — 

"  Ah,  do  be  friends,  for  I  can't  bear  to  part  so." 

Now  if  no  one  nad  been  by,  Ned  would  have  found 
that  pleasant  mingling  of  soft  arms  and  worsted  a 
genuine  comforter ;  but  masculine  pride  would  not  per 
mit  him  to  relent  before  witnesses,  and  the  fear  of  being 


213  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

laughed  at  by  "  those  fellows "  made  him  put  both 
sister  and  gift  roughly  aside,  with  a  stern,  — 

"I  won't  be  molly-coddled  !  Let  me  alone  and  shut 
the  door ! " 

Polly  did  let  him  alone,  with  a  look  that  haunted 
him,  and  shut  the  door  with  a  spirited  bang,  that  much 
'unused  the  gentlemen. 

"  I'll  never  try  to  do  any  thing  for  Ned  again !  It's 
no  use,  and  he  may  go  to  the  bad  for  all  I  care ! "  said 
Polly  to  herself,  after  a  good  cry. 

But  she  bitterly  repented  that  speech  a  few  hours 
later,  when  her  brother  was  brought  back,  apparently 
dead,  by  such  of  the  "  cheerful "  party  as  escaped  un 
hurt  from  a  dangerous  upset. 

There  was  no  concealing  this  sad  home-coming  from 
her  father,  though  poor  Ned  was  quiet  enough  now, 
being  stunned  by  the  fall,  which  had  wounded  his  head 
and  broken  his  right  arm. 

It  was  a  shock,  both  to  the  man  and  the  minister ;  and, 
when  the  worst  was  over,  he  left  Polly  to  watch  her 
brother,  with  eyes  full  of  penitential  tears,  and  went 
away,  to  reproach  himself  in  private  for  devoting  to 
ancient  Fathers  the  time  and  thought  he  should  have 
given  to  modern  sons. 

Ned  was  very  ill,  and  when,  at  last,  he  began  to  mend, 
his  helplessness  taught  him  to  see  and  love  the  sweetest 
side  of  Polly's  character ;  for  she  was  in  truth  his  right 
hand,  and  waited  on  him  with  a  zeal  that  touched  hie 
heart. 

Not  one  reproach  did  she  utter,  not  even  by  a  look 
did  she  recall  past  warnings,  or  exult  in  the  present 
humiliation,  which  proved  how  needful  they  had  been. 


WHAT  POLLY  DID.  27 

Rvery  thing  was  forgotten  except  the  fact  that  she  had 
the  happy  privilege  of  caring  for  him  almost  as  tenderly 
as  a  mother. 

Not  quite,  though,  and  the  memory  of  her  whose 
place  it  was  impossible  to  fill  seemed  to  draw  them 
closer  together ;  as  if  the  silent  voice  repeated  its  last 
injunctions  to  both  son  and  daughter,  "Take  care  of 
the  boys,  dear ; "  "  Be  good  to  your  sister,  Ned." 

"  I've  been  a  regular  brute  to  her,  and  the  dear  little 
soul  is  heaping  coals  of  fire  on  my  head  by  slaving  over 
me  like  an  angel,"  thought  the  remorseful  invalid,  one 
day,  as  he  lay  on  the  sofa,  with  a  black  patch  adorning 
his  brow,  and  his  arm  neatly  done  up  in  splints. 

Polly  thought  he  was  asleep,  and  sat  quietly  rolling 
bandages  till  a  head  popped  in  at  the  door,  and  Will 
asked,  in  a  sepulchral  whisper,  — 

"I've  got  the  book  Ned  wanted.  Can  I  come  and 
give  it  to  you  ?  " 

Polly  nodded,  and  he  tiptoed  in  to  her  side,  with  a 
face  so  full  of  good-will  and  spirits  that  it  was  as  re 
freshing  as  a  breath  of  fresh  air  in  that  sick  room. 

"  Nice  boy !  he  never  forgets  to  do  a  kindness  and  be 
a  comfort  to  his  Polly,"  she  said,  leaning  her  tired  head 
on  his  buttony  jacket,  as  he  stood  beside  her. 

Will  wasn't  ashamed  to  show  affection  for  ''  his 
Polly,"  so  he  patted  the  pale  cheeks  with  a  hand  as  red 
as  his  mittens,  and  smiled  down  at  her  with  his  honest 
blue  eyes  full  of  the  protecting  affection  it  was  so 
pleasant  to  receive. 

"  Yes,  Pin  going  to  be  a  tiptop  boy,  and  never  make 
you  and  father  ashamed  of  me,  as  you  were  once  of 
somebody  we  know.  Now  don't  you  laugh,  and  I'll 


28  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

show  you  something;  it's  the  best  I  could  do,  and  I 
wanted  to  prove  that  I  mean  what  I  say;  truly,  truly, 
wish  I  may  die  if  I  don't." 

As  he  spoke,  Will  pulled  out  of  his  vest-pocket  a 
little  pewter  cream-pot,  tied  to  a  shoe-string,  and  hold 
ing  it  up  said,  with  a  funny  mixture  of  boyish  dignity 
and  defiance,  — 

"  I  bought  it  of  Nelly  Hunt,  because  her  tea-set  was 
half-smashed  up.  Folks  may  laugh  at  my  badge,  but  I 
don't  care  ;  and  if  you  won't  have  me  in  your  society  I'll 
set  up  all  alone,  for  I'm  going  into  the  temperance  busi 
ness,  any  way ! " 

Polly  hugged  him  on  the  spot,  and  made  his  youth 
ful  countenance  glow  with  honest  pride  by  saying 
solemnly,  — 

"  William  G.  Snow,  I  consider  our  league  honored  by 
the  addition  of  so  valuable  a  member ;  for  a  boy  who 
can  bear  to  be  laughed  at,  and  yet  stick  to  his  princi 
ples,  is  a  treasure." 

"  The  fellows  do  laugh  at  me,  and  call  me  '  Little 
Pitcher;'  but  I'd  rather  be  that  than  "Champagne 
Charlie,'  as  Ned  called  Mr.  Lord,"  said  Will,  stoutly. 

"  Bless  the  little  pitchers  !  "  cried  Polly,  enthusiasti 
cally  surveying  both  the  pewter  pot  and  its  wearer. 

A  great  tear  was  lying  on  her  cheek,  checked  in  its 
fall  by  the  dimple  that  came  as  she  looked  at  her 
brother's  droll  badge.  Will  caught  it  dexterously  in 
the  tiny  cup,  saying,  with  a  stifled  laugh, — 

"  Now  you've  baptized  it,  Polly,  and  it's  as  good 
as  silver ;  for  your  tear  shines  in  there  like  a  great 
big  diamond.  Wonder  how  many  it  would  take  to 
till  it?" 


WHAT  POLLY  DID.  29 

"  You'll  never  make  me  cry  enough  to  find  out. 
Now  go  and  get  my  little  silver  chain,  for  that  dear 
pewter  pot  deserves  a  better  one  than  an  old  shoe 
string,"  said  Polly,  looking  after  him  with  a  happy  face, 
as  the  small  youth  gave  one  ecstatic  skip  and  was  off. 

"  I'm  afraid  we've  waked  you  up,"  she  added,  as  Ned 
stirred. 

"  I  was  only  day-dreaming ;  but  I  mean  this  one  shall 
come  true,"  and  Ned  rose  straight  up,  with  an  energy 
that  surprised  his  sister. 

"  Come  and  have  your  lunch,  for  it's  time.  Which 
will  you  take,  Mrs.  Neal's  wine-jelly  or  my  custard?" 
asked  Polly,  settling  him  in  his  big  chair. 

To  her  astonishment,  Ned  pitched  the  little  mould 
Df  amber  jelly  into  the  fire,  and  tried  to  eat  the  custard 
with  his  left  hand. 

"My  dear  boy,  have  you  lost  your  senses?"  she 
ejaculated. 

"No;  I've  just  found  them,"  he  answered,  with  a 
flash  of  the  eye,  that  seemed  to  enlighten  Polly  with 
out  more  words. 

Taking  her  usual  seat  on  the  arm  of  the  chair,  she 
fed  her  big  nursling  in  silence,  till  a  sigh  made  her  ask 
tenderly,  — 

"  Isn't  it  right  ?  I  put  in  lots  of  sugar  because  you 
Hike  it  sweet." 

"  All  the  sugar  in  the  world  won't  sweeten  it  to  me, 
Polly ;  for  there's  a  bitter  drop  at  the  bottom  of  all  my 
cups.  Will  said  your  tear  shone  like  a  diamond  in  hisi 
little  pitcher,  and  well  it  might.  But  you  can't  cry 
happy  tears  over  me,  though  I've  made  you  shed 
enough  sad  ones  to  fill  the  big  punch-bowl." 


30  SILVER   PITCHERS. 

Ned  tried  to  laugh,  but  somehow  the  custard  choked 
him;  and  Polly  laid  the  poor,  cropped  head  on  her 
shoulder  for  a  minute,  saying  softly,  — 

«'4  Never  mind,  dear,  I  wouldn't  think  about  the  old 
troubles  now." 

She  got  no  farther,  for  with  a  left-handed  thump  that 
made  all  the  cups  dance  wildly  on  the  table,  Ned  cried 
out,  — 

"But  I  will  think  about  the  old  troubles,  for  I  don't 
intend  to  have  any  new  ones  of  that  sort!  Do  you 
suppose  I'll  see  that  snip  of  a  boy  standing  up  for  what 
is  right,  and  not  have  the  pluck  to  do  the  same  ?  Do 
you  suppose  I'll  make  my  own  father  ashamed  of  me 
more  than  once?  Or  let  the  dearest  little  girl  in  the 
world  wear  herself  out  over  me,  and  I  not  try  to  thank 
her  in  the  way  she  likes  best?  Polly,  my  dear,  you 
can't  be  as  proud  of  your  elder  brother  as  you  are  oi 
the  younger,  but  you  shall  never  have  cause  to  blush 
for  him  again  ;  never,  sir,  never  !  " 

Ned  lifted  his  hand  for  another  emphatic  thump,  but 
changed  his  mind,  and  embraced  his  sister  as  closely  as 
one  arm  could  do  it. 

"  I  ought  to  have  a  badge  if  I'm  going  to  belong  to 
your  select  society ;  but  I  don't  know  any  lady  who 
will  give  me  an  ear-ring  or  a  cream-pot,"  said  Ned, 
;vhen  the  conversation  got  round  again  to  the  cheerful 
side  of  the  question. 

"I'll  give  you  something  better  than  either,"  an 
swered  Polly,  as  she  transferred  a  plain  locket  from  her 
watch-guard  to  the  one  lying  on  the  table. 

Ned  knew  that  a  beloved  face  and  a  lock  of  graj 


WHAT  PRIS  DID. 


hair  were  inside;   and  when  his  sister  added,  with  a 
look  full  of  sweet  significance,  u  For  her  sake,  dear,' 
he  answered  manfully,  — 
"I'll  try,  Polly!" 


CHAPTER  \ 

WHAT   PRJS    DID. 

PRISCILLA,  meantime,  was  racking  her  orain  to  dis 
cover  how  she  could  help  Philip ;  for  since  she  had 
broken  off  her  engagement  no  one  spoke  of  him  to  her, 
and  she  could  only  judge  of  how  things  were  going 
with  him  by  what  she  saw  and  heard  as  she  went  about 
her  daily  task. 

Pris  kept  school,  and  the  road  which  she  must  take 
twice  a  day  led  directly  by  the  office  where  Phil  was 
studying  medicine  with  old  Dr.  Buffum.  Formerly 
she  always  smiled  and  nodded  as  she  passed,  or  stopped 
to  chat  a  moment  with  the  student,  who  usually 
chanced  to  be  taking  a  whiff  of  fresh  air  at  that  in 
stant.  Little  notes  flew  in  and  out,  and  often  her 
homeward  walk  was  cheered  by  a  companion,  who 
taught  the  pretty  teacher  lessons  she  found  it  very 
easy  to  learn. 

A  happy  time !  But  it  was  all  over  now,  and  brief 
glimpses  of  a  brown  head  bent  above  a  desk  near  that 
window  was  the  only  solace  poor  Pris  had.  The  head 
never  turned  as  she  went  by,  but  she  felt  sure  that 


32  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

Phil  knew  hei  step,  and  found  that  moment,  as  she  did, 
the  hardest  of  the  day. 

She  longed  to  relent,  but  dared  not  yet.  He  longed 
to  show  that  he  repented,  but  found  it  difficult  without 
a  sign  of  encouragement.  So  they  went  their  separate 
w  ays,  seldom  meeting,  for  Phil  stuck  to  his  books  with 
dogged  resolution,  and  Pris  had  no  heart  for  society. 

Of  course  the  affair  was  discussed  with  all  the  exas 
perating  freedom  of  a  country  town,  some  blaming 
Pris  for  undue  severity,  some  praising  her  spirit,  and 
some,  friends, — not  gossips,  —  predicting  that  both 
would  be  the  better  for  the  trial,  which  would  not 
separate  them  long.  Of  this  latter  class  were  Portia 
and  Polly,  who  felt  it  their  duty  to  lend  a  hand  when 
matters  reached  a  certain  point. 

"  Pris,  dear,  may  I  tell  you  something  that  I  think 
you'd  be  glad  to  know?"  began  Polly,  joining  her 
friend  one  afternoon,  as  she  went  home  weary  and 
alone. 

"  You  may  tell  me  any  thing,"  and  Pris  took  her 
arm  as  if  she  felt  the  need  of  sympathy. 

"  You  know  Dr.  Buffum  let  Phil  help  with  Ned,  so 
we  have  seen  a  good  deal  of  him,  and  that  is  how  I 
found  out  what  I've  got  to  tell  you." 

"He  spoke  of  me,  then?"  whispered  Pris,  eagerly. 

"  Not  a  word  till  Ned  made  him.  My  boy  is  fond  of 
your  boy,  and  they  had  confidences  which  seem  to 
have  done  them  both  good.  Of  course  Ned  didn't  tell 
me  all  about  it,  as  we  tell  things  (men  never  do,  they 
are  so  proud  and  queer),  but  he  said  this,  — 

"'Look  here,  Polly,  you  must  be  very  kind  to  Phil, 
and  stand  by  him  all  you  can,  or  he  will  go  down.  He 


WHAT  PRIS  DID.  33 

is  doing  his  best,  and  will  hold  on  as  long  as  he  can, 
but  a  fellow  must  have  comfort  and  encouragement  of 
some  sort,  and  if  he  don't  get  the  right  kind  he'll  try 
the  wrong.' " 

"  O  Polly !    you  will  stand  by  him  ?  " 

"  I  have  ;  for  I  just  took  Phil  in  a  weakish  moment, 
and  found  out  all  I  wanted  to  know.  Ned  is  right  and 
you  are  wrong,  Pris,  —  not  in  giving  back  the  ring,  but 
in  seeming  to  cast  him  off  entirely.  He  does  not 
deserve  that,  for  he  was  not  to  blame  half  so  much  as 
you  think.  But  he  won't  excuse  himself,  for  he  feels 
that  you  are  unjust ;  yet  he  loves  you  dearly,  and  you 
could  do  any  thing  with  him,  if  you  chose." 

"  I  do  choose,  Polly ;  but  how  can  I  marry  a  man 
whom  I  cannot  trust?"  began  Pris,  sadly. 

"  Now,  my  child,  I'm  going  to  talk  to  you  like  a 
mother,  for  I've  had  experience  with  boys,  and  I  know 
how  to  manage  them,"  interrupted  Polly,  with  such  a 
charmingly  maternal  air  that  Pris  laughed  in  spite  of 
her  trouble.  "  Be  quiet  and  listen  to  the  words  of 
wisdom,"  continued  her  friend,  seriously. 

"  Since  I  've  taken  care  of  Ned,  I've  learned  a  great 
deal,  for  the  poor  lad  was  so  sick  and  sorry  he  couldn't 
shut  his  heart  against  me  any  more.  So  now  I  under 
stand  how  to  help  and  comfort  him,  for  hearts  are  very 
much  alike,  Pris,  and  all  need  lots  of  love  and  patience 
to  keep  them  good  and  happy.  Ned  told  me  his 
troubles,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  that  as  ice  don't 
have  so  many  temptations  as  boys,  we  should  do  all  we 
can  to  help  them,  and  make  them  the  sort  of  men  we 
can  both  love  and  trust." 

"You    are   right,   Polly.     I've   often   thought   how 


34  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

wrong  it  is  for  us  to  sit  safe  and  silent  while  we  know 
things  are  going  wrong,  just  because  it  isn't  considered 
proper  for  us  to  speak  out.  Then  when  the  harm  is 
done  we  are  expected  to  turn  virtuously  away  from 
the  poor  soul  we  might  perhaps  have  saved  if  we  had 
dared.  God  does  not  do  so  to  us,  and  we  ought  not 
to  do  so  to  those  over  whom  we  have  so  much 
power,"  said  Pris,  with  a  heart  full  of  sad  and  tender 
memories. 

"We  won't!"  cried  Polly,  firmly.  "We  began  in 
play,  but  we  will  go  on  in  earnest,  and  use  our  youth, 
our  beauty,  our  influence  for  something  nobler  than 
merely  pleasing  men's  eyes,  or  playing  with  their 
hearts.  We'll  help  them  to  be  good,  and  brave,  and 
true,  and  in  doing  this  we  shall  become  better  women, 
and  worthier  to  be  loved,  I  know." 

"Why,  Polly,  you  are  quite  inspired!"  and  Pris 
stopped  in  the  snowy  road  to  look  at  her. 

"  It  isn't  all  my  wisdom.  I  've  talked  with  father  as 
well  as  Ned  and  Phil,  and  they  have  done  me  good. 
I  've  discovered  that  confidence  is  better  than  compli 
ments,  and  friendship  much  nicer  than  flirting ;  so  I  'm 
going  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf,  and  use  my  good  gifts 
for  higher  ends." 

"  Dear  thing,  what  a  comfort  you  are ! "  said  Pris, 
pressing  Polly's  hands,  and  looking  into  her  bright  face 
with  grateful  eyes.  "  You  have  given  me  courage  to 
do  my  duty,  and  I'll  follow  your  example  as  fast  as  1 
can.  Don't  come  any  farther,  please :  I'd  better  be 
alone  when  I  pass  Phil's  window,  for  I'm  going  to  nod 
and  smile,  as  I  used  to  in  the  happy  time.  Then  he 
will  see  that  I  don't  cast  him  off  and  leave  him  to  '  go 


WHAT  PHIS  DID.  35 

down'  for  want  of  help,  but  am  still  his  friend  until  I 
dare  be  more." 

"  Now,  Pris,  that's  just  lovely  of  you,  and  I  know  it 
vull  work  wonders.  Smile  and  nod  away,  dear,  and 
try  to  do  your  part,  as  I'm  trying  to  do  mine." 

For  an  instant  the  little  gray  hat  and  the  jaunty  one 
with  the  scarlet  feather  were  bent  close  together ;  but 
w  hat  went  on  under  the  brims,  who  can  say  ?  Then 
Polly  trotted  off  as  fast  as  she  could  go,  and  Pris 
turned  into  a  certain  street  with  a  quicker  step  and  a 
brighter  color  than  she  had  known  for  weeks. 

She  was  late,  for  she  had  lingered  with  Polly,  and 
ghe  feared  that  patient  watcher  at  the  window  would 
be  gone.  No ;  the  brown  head  was  there,  but  it  lay 
wearily  on  the  arms  folded  over  a  big  book,  and  the 
eyes  that  stared  out  at  the  wintry  sky  had  something 
tragic  in  them. 

Poor  Phil  did  need  encouragement,  and  was  in  the 
mood  to  take  the  worst  sort  if  the  best  failed  him,  for 
life  looked  very  dark  just  then,  and  solitude  was  grow 
ing  unbearable. 

Suddenly,  between  him  and  the  ruddy  sunset  a  face 
appeared,  —  the  dearest  and  the  loveliest  in  the  world 
to  him.  Not  half  averted  now,  nor  set  straightforward, 
cold  and  quiet  as  a  marble  countenance,  but  bent 
towards  him,  with  a  smile  on  the  lips,  and  a  wistful 
look  in  the  tender  eyes  that  made  his  heart  leap  up 
with  sudden  hope.  Then  it  vanished;  and  when  he 
sprung  to  the  window  nothing  could  be  seen  but  the 
last  wave  of  a  well-known  cloak,  fluttering  round  the 
corner. 

But   Priscilla's  first  effort  was  a  great  success;  for 


30  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

the  magic  of  a  kind  look  glorified  the  dingy  office,  and 
every  bottle  on  the  shelves  might  have  been  filled  with 
the  elixir  of  life,  so  radiant  did  Phil's  face  become. 
The  almost  uncontrollable  desire  to  rush  away  and 
recklessly  forget  his  loneliness  in  the  first  companion 
ship  that  offered  was  gone  now,  for  a  happy  hope 
peopled  his  solitude  with  helpful  thoughts  and  resolu 
tions  ;  the  tragic  look  left  the  eyes,  that  still  saw  a 
good  angel  instead  of  a  tempting  demon  between  them 
and  the  evening  sky;  and  when  Phil  shut  up  the  big 
book  he  had  been  vainly  trying  to  study,  he  felt  that 
he  had  discovered  a  new  cure  for  one  of  the  sharpest 
pains  the  heart  can  suffer. 

Next  morning  Pris  unconsciously  started  for  school 
too  soon,  so  when  she  passed  that  window  the  room 
was  empty.  Resolved  that  Phil  should  not  share  her 
disappointment,  she  lifted  the  sash  and  dropped  a  white 
azalea  on  his  desk.  She  smiled  as  she  did  it,  and  then 
whisked  away  as  if  she  had  taken  instead  of  left  a  treas 
ure.  But  the  smile  remained  with  the  flower,  I  think, 
and  Phil  found  it  there  when  he  hurried  in  to  discover 
this  sweet  2food-mornin<r  waiting  for  him. 

O  O  O 

He  put  it  in  the  wine-glass  which  he  had  sworn  never 
should  be  filled  again  with  any  thing  but  water,  and 
sitting  down  before  it  listened  to  the  little  sermon  the 
flower  preached  ;  for  the  delicate  white  azalea  was  Pris 
to  him,  and  the  eloquence  of  a  pure  and  tender  heart 
ilowed  from  it,  working  miracles.  One  of  them  was 
that  when  sunset  came  it  shone  on  two  faces  at  the 
window,  and  the  little  snow-birds  heard  two  voices 
breaking  a  long  silence. 

"  Goci  bless  you,  Pris ! " 


WHAT  PRIS  DID.  37 

»'  God  help  you,  Phil ! " 

That  was  all,  but  from  that  hour  the  girl  felt  her 
power  for  good,  and  used  it  faithfully ;  and  from  that 
hour  the  young  man  worked  bravely  to  earn  the  re- 
Bpect  and  confidence  without  which  no  love  is  safe  ar.J 
happy. 

"We  are  friends  now,"  they  said,  when  they  were 
seen  together  again;  and  friends  they  remained,  in 
spite  of  shrugs  and  smiles,  ill-natured  speeches,  and 
more  than  one  attempt  to  sow  discord  between  them, 
for  people  did  not  understand  the  new  order  of  things. 

"  I  trust  him,"  was  the  only  answer  Pris  gave  to  all 
warnings  and  criticisms. 

"  I  will  be  worthy  of  her,"  the  vow  that  kept  Phil 
steady  in  spite  of  the  ridicule  that  is  so  hard  to  bear, 
and  gave  him  courage  to  flee  from  the  temptation  he 
was  not  yet  strong  enough  to  meet  face  to  face. 

Portia  and  Polly  stood  by  them  stanchly ;  for  having 
made  her  father's  house  a  safe  refuge,  Portia  offered 
Phil  all  the  helpful  influences  of  a  happy  home.  Polly, 
with  Ned  to  lend  a  hand,  gave  his  comrade  many  a 
friendly  lift;  and  when  it  was  understood  that  the 
Judge,  the  minister,  and  the  "  Sweet  P's  "  indorsed  the 
young  M.  D.,  no  one  dared  cast  a  stone  at  him. 

All  this  took  time,  of  course,  but  Phil  got  his  reward 
at  last,  for  one  night  a  little  thing  happened  which 
showed  him  his  own  progress,  and  made  Pris  feel  that 
she  might  venture  to  wear  the  ring  again. 

At  a  party  Phil  was  graciously  invited  to  take  wine 
with  a  lady,  and  refused.  It  was  a  very  hard  thing  to 
do,  for  the  lady  was  his  hostess,  a  handsome  woman, 
and  the  mother  of  a  flock  of  little  children,  who  all  pre- 


3*  SILVER   PITCHERS. 

f'erred  the  young  doctor  to  the  old  one ;  and,  greatest 
trial  of  all,  several  of  his  most  dreaded  comrades  stood 
by  to  laugh  at  him,  if  he  dared  to  let  principle  out 
weigh  courtesy. 

But  he  did  it,  though  he  grew  pale  with  the  effort  to 
say  steadily,  — 

"  Will  Mrs.  Ward  pardon  me  if  I  decline  the  honor  ? 
I  am  "— 

There  he  stopped  and  turned  scarlet,  for  a  lie  was  on 
his  lips,  —  a  lie  so  much  easier  to  tell  than  the  honest 
truth  that  many  would  have  forgiven  its  utterance  at 
that  minute. 

His  hostess  naturally  thought  ill  health  was  his  ex 
cuse,  and,  pitying  his  embarrassment,  said,  smiling,  — 

"  Ah !  you  doctors  don't  prescribe  wine  for  your  own 
ailments  as  readily  as  for  those  of  your  patients." 

But  Phil,  angry  at  his  own  weakness,  spoke  out 
frankly,  with  a  look  that  said  more  than  his  words,  — 

"  I  cannot  even  accept  the  kind  excuse  you  offer  me, 
for  I  am  not  ill.  It  may  be  my  duty  to  order  wine 
sometimes  for  my  patients,  but  it  is  also  my  duty  to 
prescribe  water  for  myself." 

A  dreadful  little  pause  followed  that  speech;  but 
Mrs.  Ward  understood  now,  and  though  she  thought 
the  scruple  a  foolish  one,  she  accepted  the  apology  like 
a  well-bred  woman,  and,  with  a  silent  bow  that  ended 
the  matter,  turned  to  other  guests,  leaving  poor  Phil 
to  his  fate. 

Not  a  pleasant  one,  but  he  bore  it  as  well  as  he 
could,  and  when  his  mates  left  him  stranded  in  a  cor 
ner,  he  said,  half  aloud,  with  a  long  breath,  as  if  the 
battle  had  been  a  hard  one, — 


HOW  IT  ENDED.  39 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  I  have  lost  my  best  patient,  but  I  've 
kept  my  own  respect,  and  that  ought  to  satisfy  me." 

"  Let  me  add  mine,  and  wish  you  health  and  happi 
ness,  dear  Phil,"  said  a  voice  behind  him,  and  turning 
quickly  he  saw  Pri's  standing  there  with  two  goblets  of 
water,  and  a  smile  full  of  love  and  pride. 

"You  know  what  that  toast  means  for  me?"  he 
whispered,  with  sudden  sunshine  in  his  face,  as  he 
took  the  offered  glass. 

"Yes;  and  I  drink  it  with  all  my  heart,"  she  an 
swered,  with  her  hand  in  his. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HOW    IT    ENDtfD. 

THE  leaven  dropped  by  three  girls  in  that  little 
town  worked  so  slowly  that  they  hardly  expected  to 
do  more  than  "  raise  their  own  patty-cakes,"  as  Polly 
merrily  expressed  it.  But  no  honest  purpose  is  ever 
wasted,  and  by-and-by  the  fermentation  began. 

Several  things  helped  it  amazingly.  The  first  of 
these  was  a  temperance  sermon,  preached  by  Parson 
Snow,  which  produced  a  deep  impression,  because  in 
doing  this  he  had  the  courage,  like  Brutus,  to  condemn 
his  own  son.  The  brave  sincerity,  the  tender  earnest 
ness  of  that  sermon,  touched  the  hearts  of  his  people 
as  no  learned  discourse  had  ever  done,  and  bore  fruit 
that  well  repaid  him  for  the  effort  it  cost 


40  SILVER   PITCHERS. 

It  waked  up  the  old  people,  set  the  young  ones  to 
thinking,  and  showed  them  all  that  they  had  a  work  to 
do.  For  those  who  were  down  felt  that  they  might  be 
lifted  up  again,  those  who  were  trifling  igriorantly  or 
recklessly  with  temptation  saw  their  danger,  and  those 
who  had  longed  to  speak  out  now  dared  to  do  it  be« 
cause  he  led  the  way. 

So,  warned  by  the  wolf  in  his  own  fold,  this  shepherd 
of  souls  tried  to  keep  his  flock  from  harm,  and,  in  doing 
it,  found  that  his  Christianity  was  the  stronger,  wiser, 
and  purer  for  his  humanity. 

Another  thing  was  the  fact  that  the  Judge  was  the 
first  to  follow  his  pastor's  example,  arid  prove  by  deeds 
that  he  indorsed  his  words.  It  was  hard  for  the  hospi 
table  old  gentleman  to  banish  wine  from  his  table,  and 
forego  the  pleasant  customs  which  long  usage  and  many 
associations  endeared  to  him;  but  he  made  his  sacrifice 
handsomely,  and  his  daughter  helped  him. 

She  kept  the  side-board  from  looking  bare  by  filling 
the  silver  tankards  with  flowers,  offered  water  to  his 
guests  with  a  grace  that  made  a  cordial  of  it,  and 
showed  such  love  and  honor  for  her  father  that  he  was 
a  very  proud  and  happy  man. 

What  the  Judge  did  was  considered  "all  right"  by 
I  is  neighbors,  for  he  was  not  only  the  best-born,  but 
I  he  richest  man  in  town,  and  with  a  certain  class  these 
{'acts  had  great  weight.  Portia  knew  this,  and  counted 
on  it  when  she  said  she  wanted  him  on  her  side ;  so 
she  exulted  when  others  followed  the  new  fashion, 
some  from  principle,  but  many  simply  because  he  set  it. 

At  first  the  young  reformers  were  disappointed  thai 
every  one  was  not  as  enthusiastic  as  themselves,  and  as 


HOW  IT  ENDED.  41 

ready  to  dare  and  do  for  the  cause  the}  had  espoused. 
But  wiser  heads  than  those  on  their  pretty  shoulders 
curbed  their  impetuosity,  and  suggested  various  ways 
of  gently  insinuating  the  new  idea,  and  making  it  so 
attractive  that  others  would  find  it  impossible  to  resist ; 
for  sunshine  often  wins  when  bluster  makes  us  wrap 
our  prejudices  closer  around  us,  like  the  traveller  in  the 
fable. 

Portia  baited  her  trap  with  Roman  parties,  —  for  she 
had  been  abroad,  —  and  made  them  so  delightful  that 
no  one  complained  when  only  cake  and  tea  was  served 
(that  being  the  style  in  the  Eternal  City),  but  went 
and  did  likewise. 

Artful  Polly  set  up  a  comic  newspaper,  to  amuse 
Ned,  who  was  an  invalid  nearly  all  winter,  and  in  it 
freed  her  mind  on  many  subjects  in  such  a  witty  way 
that  the  "  Pollyanthus,"  as  her  brother  named  it,  circu 
lated  through  their  set,  merrily  sowing  good  seed ;  for 
young  folks  will  remember  a  joke  longer  than  a  sermon, 
and  this  editor  made  all  hers  tell. 

Pris  was  not  behindhand  in  her  efforts,  but  worked 
in.  a  different  way,  and  got  up  a  branch  society  among 
her  little  pupils,  called  "  The  Water  Babies."  That  capti 
vated  the  mothers  at  once,  and  even  the  fathers  found 
it  difficult  to  enjoy  their  wine  with  blue  eyes  watching 
them  wistfully  over  the  rims  of  silver  mugs ;  while  the 
few  topers  of  the  town  hid  themselves  like  night-birds 
flying  from  the  sun,  when,  led  by  their  gentle  General, 
that  little  army  of  innocents  marched  through  the 
streets  with  banners  flying,  blithe  voices  singing,  rosy 
faces  shining,  and  childish  hearts  full  of  the  sweet  delu 
sion  that  they  could  save  the  world. 


42  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

Of  course  the  matrons  discussed  these  events  at  the 
sewing-circle,  and  much  talk  went  on  of  a  more  useful 
sort  than  the  usual  gossip  about  servants,  sickness,  dress, 
and  scandal. 

Mrs.  Judge  waxed  eloquent  upon  the  subject,  and, 
being  president,  every  one  listened  with  due  respect, 
Mrs.  Ward  seconded  all  her  motions,  for  this  lady  had 
much  surprised  the  town,  not  only  by  installing  Phil  as 
family  physician,  but  by  coming  out  strong  for  temper 
ance.  Somebody  had  told  her  all  about  the  girls'  labor 
of  love,  and  she  had  felt  ashamed  to  be  outdone  by 
them ;  so,  like  a  conscientious  woman,  she  decided  to 
throw  her  influence  into  the  right  scale,  take  time  by 
the  forelock,  and  help  to  make  the  town  a  safer  place 
for  her  five  sons  to  grow  up  in  than  it  was  then. 

These  two  leading  ladies  kept  the  ball  rolling  so 
briskly  that  others  were  soon  converted  and  fell  into 
rank,  till  a  dozen  or  so  were  heartily  in  earnest.  And 
then  the  job  was  half  done  ;  for  in  a  great  measure 
women  make  society  what  they  choose  to  have  it. 

"  We  are  told  that  home  is  our  sphere,  and  advised 
to  keep  in  it ;  so  let  us  see  that  it  is  what  it  should  be, 
and  then  we  shall  have  proved  our  fitness  for  larger 
fields  of  labor,  if  we  care  to  claim  them,"  said  Mrs. 
Judge,  cutting  out  red  flannel  with  charitable  energy, 
on  one  occasion. 

"Most  of  us  will  find  that  quite  as  much  as  we  can 
accomplish,  I  fancy,"  answered  Mrs.  Ward,  thinking  oi 
her  own  riotous  lads,  who  were  probably  pulling  the 
house  about  their  ears,  while  she  made  hoods  for  Mrs. 
Flanagan's  bareheaded  lasses. 

"'Pears  to  me  we  hain't  no  call  to  interfere  in  other 


HOW  IT  ENDED.  4H 

folks's  affairs.  This  never  was  a  drinkin'  town,  and 
things  is  kep'  in  fustrate  order,  so  /don't  see  the  use  oi 
sech  a  talk  about  temperance,"  remarked  Miss  Simmons, 
an  acid  spinster,  whose  principal  earthly  wealth  con 
sisted  of  a  choice  collection  of  cats. 

"If  your  tabbies  took  to  drinking,  you  would  see  the 
use,  I'm  sure,"  laughed  Polly,  from  the  corner,  which 
was  a  perfect  posy-bed  of  girls. 

"  Thank  goodness,  JFve  no  men  folks  to  pester  myself 
about,"  began  Miss  Simmons,  with  asperity. 

"Ah,  but  you  should ;  for  if  you  refuse  to  make  them 
happy,  you  ought  at  least  to  see  that  they  console 
themselves  in  ways  which  can  work  them  no  further 
woe,"  continued  Polly,  gravely,  though  her  black  eyes 
danced  with  fun. 

"  Well,  that  wouldn't  be  no  more  than  fair,  I'm  free 
to  confess ;  but,  sakes  alive,  I  couldn't  attend  to  'em 
all !  "  said  Miss  Simmons,  bridling  with  a  simper  that 
nearly  upset  the  whole  bevy  of  girls. 

"Do  make  the  effort,  and  help  us  poor  things  who 
haven't  had  your  experience,"  added  Pris,  in  her  most 
persuasive  voice. 

"  I  declare  I  will !  I'll  have  Hiram  Stebbins  in  to  tea ; 
and  when  he's  as  good-natured  as  muffins  and  pie  can 
make  him,  I'll  set  to  and  see  if  I  can't  talk  him  out 
of  his  attachment  to  that  brandy  bottle,"  cried  Miss 
Simmons,  with  a  sudden  yearning  towards  the  early 
sweetheart,  who  had  won,  but  never  claimed  her  virgin 
affections. 

"  I  think  you'll  do  it ;  and,  if  so,  you  will  have  accom 
plished  what  no  one  else  could,  and  you  shall  have  any 
prize  you  choose,"  cried  Portia,  smiling  so  hopefullj 


44  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

that  the  faded  old  face  grew  almost  young  again,  as 
Miss  Simmons  went  home  with  something  better  to  do 
than  tend  her  tabbies. 

"  We've  bagged  that  bird,"  said  Polly,  with  real  satis 
faction. 

"That's  the  way  we  set  people  to  work,"  added 
Portia,  smiling. 

"  She  will  do  what  we  can't,  for  her  heart  is  in  it," 
said  Pris,  softly ;  and  it  was  pleasant  to  see  the  bloom 
ing  girls  rejoice  that  poor  old  Hiram  was  in  a  fair  way 
to  be  saved. 

So  the  year  went  round,  and  Thanksgiving  came 
again,  with  the  home  jollity  that  makes  a  festival 
throughout  the  land.  The  day  would  not  be  perfect 
if  it  did  not  finish  with  a  frolic  of  some  sort,  and  for 
reasons  of  their  own  the  young  gentlemen  decided  to 
have  the  first  sociable  of  the  year  an  unusually  pleasant 
one. 

"  Everybody  is  going,  and  Ned  says  the  supper  is  to 
be  water-ice  and  ice- water,"  said  Polly,  taking  a  last 
look  at  herself  in  the  long  mirror,  when  the  three 
friends  were  ready  on  that  happy  evening. 

"  I  needn't  sigh  now  over  other  girls'  pretty  dresses, 
as  I  did  last  year ;  "  and  Portia  plumed  herself  like  a 
swan,  as  she  settled  Charley's  roses  in  her  bosom. 

"And  I  needn't  wonder  who  Phil  will  take,"  added 
Pris,  stopping,  with  her  glove  half  on,  to  look  at  the 
"little  ring  back  again  from  its  long  banishment  in  some 
body's  waistcoat  pocket. 

Never  had  the  hall  looked  so  elegant  and  gay,  for  it 
was  charmingly  decorated ;  couches  were  provided  for 
t.he  elders,  mirrors  for  the  beauties,  and  music  of  the 


HOW  IT  ENDED.  45 

best  sounded  from  behind  a  thicket  of  shrubs  and  flow 
ers.  Every  one  seemed  in  unusually  good  spirits ;  the 
girls  looked  their  loveliest,  and  the  young  men  were 
models  of  propriety;  though  a  close  observer  might 
have  detected  a  suspicious  twinkle  in  the  eyes  of  the 
most  audacious,  as  if  they  plotted  some  new  joke. 

The  girls  saw  it,  were  on  the  watch,  and  thought  the 
secret  was  out  when  they  discovered  that  the  gentlemen 
of  their  set  all  wore  tiny  pitchers,  hanging  like  orders 
from  the  knots  of  sweet-peas  in  their  button-holes, 
But,  bless  their  innocent  hearts !  that  was  only  a  ruse, 
and  they  were  taken  entirely  by  surprise  when,  just 
before  supper,  the  band  struck  up, 

"  Drink  to  me  only  with  thine  eyes  ;  " 

and  every  one  looked  smilingly  at  the  three  girls  wn^ 
were  standing  together  near  the  middle  of  the  hall. 

They  looked  about  them  in  pretty  confusion,  but  in 
a  moment  beheld  a  spectacle  that  made  them  forget 
themselves;  for  the  Judge,  in  an  impressive  white 
waistcoat,  marched  into  the  circle  gathered  about  them, 
made  a  splendid  bow,  and  said,  with  a  smile  that  put 
the  gas  to  shame,  — 

"Young  ladies!  I  am  desired  by  the  gentlemen  now 
present  to  beg  your  acceptance  of  a  slight  token  of 
their  gratitude,  respect,  and  penitence.  As  the  first 
man  who  joined  the  society  which  has  proved  a  blessing 
lo  our  town,  Mr.  William  Snow  will  now  have  the 
honor  of  presenting  the  gift." 

Then  appeared  Mr.  William  Snow,  looking  as  proud 
as  a  peacock ;  and  well  he  might,  for  on  the  salver  which 
he  bore  stood  a  stately  silver  pitcher.  A  graceful  little 


46  SILVER  PITCHERS. 

Hebe  danced  upon  the  handle,  three  names  shone  along 
the  fretted  brim,  and  three  white  lilies  rose  from  the 
slender  vase,  —  fit  emblems  of  the  maiden  founders  of 
the  league. 

Arriving  before  them,  Master  Will  nearly  upset  the 
equilibrium  of  his  precious  burden  in  attempting  to 
make  a  bow  equal  to  the  Judge's ;  but  recovered  him 
self  gallantly,  and  delivered  the  following  remarkable 
poem,  which  the  public  was  expected  to  believe  an 
emanation  of  his  own  genius :  — 

"  Hebe  poured  the  nectar  forth 

When  gods  of  old  were  jolly, 
But  graces  three  our  goblets  fill, 

Fair  Portia,  Pris  and  Polly. 
Their  draughts  make  every  man  who  tastes 

Happier,  better,  richer ; 
3o  here  we  vow  ourselves  henceforth 

Knights  of  the  Silver  Pitcher." 


ANNA'S     WHIM. 


«  IVJO  W  just  look  at  that ! "  cried  a  young  lady, 
J-  1  pausing  suddenly  in  her  restless  march  to  and 
fro  on  one  of  the  wide  piazzas  of  a  seaside  hotel. 

"  At  what  ? "  asked  her  companion,  lazily  swinging 
in  a  hammock. 

"  The  difference  in  those  two  greetings.  It's  per 
fectly  disgraceful !  "  was  the  petulant  reply. 

"  I  didn't  see  any  thing.  Do  tell  me  about  it,"  said 
Clara,  opening  her  drowsy  eyes  with  sudden  interest. 

"Why,  young  Barlow  was  lounging  up  the  walk, 
and  met  pretty  Miss  Ellery.  Off  went  his  hat ;  he 
gave  her  a  fine  bow,  a  gracious  smile,  a  worn-out  com 
pliment,  and  then  dawdled  on  again.  The  next  minute 
Joe  King  came  along.  Instantly  Barlow  woke  up 
laughed  out  like  a  pleased  boy,  gave  him  a  hearty  grip 
of  the  hand,  a  cordial  '  How  are  you,  old  fellow  ?  I'm 
no  end  glad  to  see  you ! '  and,  linking  arms,  the  two 
tramped  off,  quite  beaming  with  satisfaction." 

"  But,  child,  King  is  Barlow's  best  friend  ;  Kitty 
Ellery  only  an  acquaintance.  Besides,  it  wouldn't  do 
to  greet  a  woman  like  a  man." 

"Yes,  it  would,  especially  in  this  case;  for  Barkm 
adores  Kate,  and  might,  at  least,  treat  her  to  some 
thing  better  than  the  nonsense  he  gives  other  girls 
But,  no,  it's  proper  to  simper  and  compliment;  and 


48  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

he'll  do  it  till  his  love  gets  the  better  G    *  prunes  and 
prisms,'  and  makes  him  sincere  and  earnest." 

"  This  is  a  new  whim  of  yours.  You  surely  wouldn't 
like  to  have  any  man  call  out  <  How  are  you,  Anna? ' 
ulap  you  on  the  shoulder,  and  nearly  shake  your  hand 
off,  as  Barlow  did  King's,  just  now,"  said  Clara,  laugh 
ing  at  her  friend. 

"  Yes,  I  would,"  answered  Anna,  perversely,  *  if  he 
really  meant  it  to  express  affection  or  pleasure.  A  good 
grip  of  the  hand  and  a  plain,  hearty  word  would  please 
me  infinitely  better  than  all  the  servile  bowing  down 
and  sweet  nonsense  I've  had  lately.  I'm  not  a  fool ; 
then,  why  am  I  treated  like  one  ?  "  she  continued,  knit 
ting  her  handsome  brows  and  pacing  to  and  fro  like  an 
angry  leopardess.  "  Why  don't  men  treat  me  like  a 
reasonable  being?  —  talk  sense  to  me,  give  me  their 
best  ideas,  tell  me  their  plans  and  ambitions,  let  me 
enjoy  the  real  man  in  them,  and  know  what  they  hon 
estly  are  ?  I  don't  want  to  be  a  goddess  stuck  up  on  a 
pedestal.  I  want  to  be  a  woman  down  among  them, 
to  help  and  be  helped  by  our  acquaintance." 

"  It  wouldn't  do,  I  fancy.  They  wouldn't  like  it, 
and  would  tell  you  to  keep  to  your  own  sex." 

"But  my  own  sex  don't  interest  or  help  me  one  bit. 
Women  have  no  hope  but  to  be  married,  and  that  is 
BOOH  told ;  no  ideas  but  dress  and  show,  and  I'm  tired 
to  death  of  both  ;  no  ambition  but  to  outshine  theii 
neighbors,  and  I  despise  that." 

"  Thank  you,  love,"  blandly  murmured  Clara. 

"It  is  true,  and  you  know  it.  There  are  sensible 
women ;  but  not  in  my  set.  And  I  don't  seem  to  find 
*hem.  I've  tried  the  life  set  down  for  girls  like  me, 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  49 

And  for  three  years  I've  lived  and  enjoyed  it.  N"o\v 
Fm  tired  of  it.  I  want  something  better,  and  I  mean 
to  have  it.  Men  will  follow,  admire,  flatter,  and  love 
me;  for  I  please  them  and  they  enjoy  my  society. 
Very  well.  Then  it's  fair  that  I  should  enjoy  theirs. 
And  I  should  if  they  would  let  me.  It's  perfectly 
maddening  to  have  flocks  of  brave,  bright  fellows 
round  me,  full  of  every  thing  that  is  attractive,  strong, 
and  helpful,  yet  not  be  able  to  get  at  it,  because  so 
ciety  ordains  twaddle  between  us,  instead  of  sensible 
conversation  and  sincere  manners." 

"  What  shall  we  do  about  it,  love  ? "  asked  Clara, 
enjoying  her  friend's  tirade. 

"  You  will  submit  to  it,  and  get  a  mental  dyspepsia, 
like  all  the  other  fashionable  girls.  I  won't  submit,  if 
I  can  help  it;  even  if  I  shock  Mrs.  Grand y  by  my 
efforts  to  get  plain  bread  and  beef  instead  of  con 
fectionery." 

Anna  walked  in  silence  for  a  moment,  and  then 
burst  out  again,  more  energetically  than  ever. 

"Oh!  I  do  wish  I  could  find  one  sensible  man,  who 
would  treat  me  as  he  treats  his  male  friends,  —  even 
roughly,  if  he  is  honest  and  true ;  who  would  think  me 
worthy  of  his  confidence,  ask  my  advice,  let  me  give 
him  whatever  I  have  that  is  wise  and  excellent,  and  be 
my  friend  in  all  good  faith." 

"  Ahem !  "  said  Clara,  with  a  significant  laugh,  that 
angered  Anna. 

"  You  need  not  try  to  abash  me  with  your  jeers.  I 
know  what  I  mean,  and  I  stand  by  my  guns,  in  spite 
of  your  '  hems/  I  do  not  want  lovers.  I've  had 
dozens,  and  air  tired  of  them.  I  will  not  marry  till  I 

4 


50  ANNA'S   WHIM. 

know  the  man  thoroughly;  and  how  can-  I  know  him 
with  this  veil  between  us  ?  They  don't  guess  what  I 
really  am ;  and  I  want  to  prove  to  them  and  to  myseli 
that  I  possess  brains  and  a  heart,  as  well  as  '  heavenly 
eyes,'  a  '  queenly  figure,'  and  a  '  mouth  made  for 
kissing.' " 

The  scorn  with  which  Anna  uttered  the  last  word  a 
amused  her  friend  immensely,  for  the  petulant  beauty 
had  never  looked  handsomer  than  at  that  moment. 

u  If  any  man  saw  you  now,  he'd  promise  whatever 
you  ask,  no  matter  how  absurd.  But  don't  excite 
yourself,  dear  child ;  it  is  too  wa^rm  for  heroics." 

Anna  leaned  on  the  wide  baluster  a  moment,  look 
ing  thoughtfully  out  upon  the  sea ;  and  as  she  gazed  a 
new  expression  stole  over  her  charming  face,  changing 
its  disdainful  warmth  to  soft  regret. 

"This  is  not  all  a  whim.  I  know  what  I  covet, 
because  I  had  it  once,"  she  said,  with  a  sigh.  "  I  had 
a  boy  friend  when  I  was  a  girl,  and  for  several  years 
we  were  like  brother  and  sister.  Ah!  what  happy 
times  we  had  together,  Frank  and  I.  We  played  and 
studied,  quarrelled  and  made  up,  dreamed  splendid 
dreams,  and  loved  one  another  in  our  simple  child 
fashion,  never  thinking  of  sex,  rivalry,  or  any  of  the 
forms  and  follies  that  spoil  maturer  friendships." 

"  What  became  of  him  ?  Did  he  die  angelically  in 
his  early  bloom,  or  outgrow  his  Platonics  with  round 
jackets?"  asked  Clara. 

"  lie  went  to  college.  I  went  abroad,  to  be  '  finished 
oif ; '  and  when  we  met  a  year  ago  the  old  charm  was 
all  gone,  for  we  were  '  in  society '  and  had  our  masks 


ANNA*  8    WHIM.  51 

"  So  the  boy  and  girl  friendship  did  not  ripen  into 
love  and  end  the  romance  properly  ?  " 

"  No,  thank  Heaven !  no  flirtation  spoilt  the  pretty 
story.  Frank  was  too  wise,  and  I  too  busy.  Yet  1 
remember  how  glad  I  was  to  see  him ;  though  I  hid  it 
pioperly,  and  pretended  to  be  quite  unconscious  that 
I  was  any  thing  but  a  belle.  I  got  paid  for  my  deceit, 
though ;  for,  in  spite  of  his  admiration,  I  saw  he  was 
disappointed  in  me.  I  should  not  have  cared  if  I  had 
been-disappointed  in  him ;  but  I  was  quick  to  see  that 
he  was  growing  one  of  the  strong,  superior  men  who 
command  respect.  I  wanted  to  keep  his  regard,  at 
least;  and  I  seemed  to  have  nothing  but  beauty  to 
give  in  return.  I  think  I  never  was  so  hurt  in  my  life 
as  I  was  by  his  not  coming  to  see  me  after  a  week  01 
two,  and  hearing  him  say  to  a  friend,  one  night,  when 
I  thought  I  was  at  my  very  best,  '  She  is  spoilt,  like 
all  the  rest.' " 

"  I  do  believe  you  loved  him,  and  that  is  why  you 
won't  love  any  one  else,"  cried  Clara,  who  had  seen 
her  friend  in  her  moods  before ;  but  never  understood 
them,  and  thought  she  had  found  a  clew  now. 

"  No,"  said  Anna,  with  a  quiet  shake  of  the  head. 
"No,  I  only  wanted  my  boy  friend  back,  and  could  not 
find  him.  The  fence  between  us  was  too  high  ;  and  I 
could  not  climb  over,  as  I  used  to  do  when  I  leaped 
the  garden-wall  to  sit  in  a  tree  and  help  Frank  with 
his  lessons." 

"  Has  the  uncivil  wretch  never  come  back  ?  "  asked 
Clara,  interested  in  the  affair. 

"Never.  He  is  too  busy  shaping  his  life  bravely 
and  successfully  to  waste  his  time  on  a  frivolous  butter 
fly  like  Anna  West." 


ANNA'S    WHIM. 

An  eloquent  little  gesture  of  humility  made  tl.o 
words  almost  pathetic.  Kind-hearted  Clara  was  touched 
by  the  sight  of  tears  in  the  "  heavenly  eyes,"  and  tum 
bling  out  of  the  hammock  she  embraced  the  "queenly 
figure"  and  warmly  pressed  the  "lips  that  were  made 
for  kissing,"  thereby  driving  several  approaching  gentle 
men  to  the  verge  of  distraction. 

"  Now  don't  be  tragical,  darling.  You  have  noth 
ing  to  cry  for,  I  'm  sure.  Young,  lovely,  rich,  and  adored, 
what  more  can  any  girl  want  ?  "  said  Clara,  gushingly. 

"  Something  besides  admiration  to  live  for,"  an 
swered  Anna,  adding,  with  a  shrug,  as  she  saw  several 
hats  fly  off  and  several  manly  countenances  beam  upon 
her,  "Never  mind,  my  fit  is  over  now;  let  us  go  and 
dress  for  tea." 

Miss  West  usually  took  a  brisk  pull  in  her  own  boat 
before  breakfast;  a  habit  which  lured  many  indolent 
young  gentlemen  out  of  their  beds  at  unaccustomed 
hours,  in  the  hope  that  they  might  have  the  honor  of 
splashing  their  legs  helping  her  off,  the  privilege  of 
wishing  her  "  Bon  voyage"  or  the  crowning  rapture  of 
accompanying  her. 

On  the  morning  after  her  "  fit,"  as  she  called  the  dis 
content  of  a  really  fine  nature  with  the  empty  life  she 
led,  she  was  up  and  out  unusually  early ;  for  she  had 
kept  her  room  with  a  headache  all  the  evening,  and 
now  longed  for  fresh  air  and  exercise. 

As  she  prepared  the  "  Gull"  for  a  start,  she  was  idly 
wondering  what  early  bird  would  appear  eager  to 
secure  the  coveted  worm,  when  a  loud  and  cheerful 
voice  was  heard  calling, — 

"Hullo,  Anna!"  and  a  nautioally  attired  gentleman 
hove  in  sight,  waving  his  hat  as  he  hailed  her. 


ANNA'S   WHIM.  53 

She  started  at  the  unceremonious  salute  and  looked 
back.  Then  her  whole  face  brightened  beautifully  as 
she  sprang  up  the  bank,  saying,  with  a  pretty  mixture 
of  hesitation  and  pleasure,  — 

"  Why,  Frank,  is  that  you?" 

"  Do  you  doubt  it  ?  " 

And  the  new-comer  shook  both  her  hands  so  vigor 
ously  that  she  winced  a  little  as  she  said,  laughing, — 

"  No,  I  don't.  That  is  the  old  squeeze  with  extra 
power  in  it." 

"  How  are  you  ?  Going  for  a  pull  ?  Take  me  along 
and  show  me  the  lions.  There's  a  good  soul." 

"  With  pleasure.  When  did  you  come  ? "  asked 
Anna,  settling  the  black  ribbon  under  the  sailor  collar 
which  set  off  her  white  throat  charmingly. 

"  Last  night.  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  you  at  tea ;  but 
you  were  surrounded  then  and  vanished  immediately 
afterward.  So  when  I  saw  you  skipping  over  the  rocks 
just  now,  I  gave  chase,  and  here  I  am.  Shall  I  take  an 
oar?"  asked  Frank,  as  she  motioned  him  to  get  in. 

"  No,  thank  you.  I  prefer  to  row  myself  and  don  t 
need  any  help,"  she  answered,  with  an  imperious  little 
wave  of  the  hand ;  for  she  was  glad  to  show  him  she 
could  do  something  besides  dance,  dress,  and  flirt. 

"All  right.  Then  I'll  do  the  luxurious  and  enjoy 
myself."  And,  without  offering  to  help  her  in,  Frank 
seated  himself,  folded  his  arms,  stretched  out  his  long 
legs,  and  placidly  remarked, — 

"  Pull  away,  skipper." 

Anna  was  pleased  with  his  frank  and  friendly  greet 
ing,  and,  feeling  as  if  old  times  had  come  again,  sprang 
in,  prepared  to  astonish  him  with  her  skill. 


5-1  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

"Might  I  suggest  that  you" —  began  Frank,  as  sh« 
pushed  off. 

"No  suggestions  or  advice  allowed  aboard  this  ship. 
I  know  what  I'm  about,  though  I  am  a  woman,"  was 
the  severe  answer,  as  the  boat  glided  from  the  wharf. 

"Ay,  ay,  sir!"  And  Frank  meekly  subsided,  with  a 
twinkle  of  amusement  in  the  eyes  that  rested  approv 
ingly  on  the  slender  figure  in  a  blue  boating  suit  and 
the  charming  face  under  the  sailor  hat. 

Anna  paddled  her  way  dexterously  out  from  among 
the  fleet  of  boats  riding  at  anchor  in  the  little  bay ;  then 
she  seated  herself,  adjusted  one  oar,  and  looked  about 
for  the  other  rowlock.  It  was  nowhere  visible;  and, 
after  a  silent  search,  she  deigned  to  ask,  — 

"  Have  you  seen  the  thing  anywhere  ?  " 

"  I  saw  it  on  the  bank." 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  me  before  ?  " 

w  I  began  to,  but  was  quenched ;  so  I  obeyed  orders." 

"You  haven't  forgotten  how  to  tease,"  said  Anna, 
petulantly. 

"  Nor  you  to  be  wilful." 

She  gave  him  a  look  that  would  have  desolated  most 
men  ;  but  only  made  Frank  smile  affably  as  she  paddled 
laboriously  back,  recovered  the  rowlock  and  then  her 
temper,  as,  with  a  fine  display  of  muscle,  she  pulled  out 
l,o  sea. 

Getting  into  the  current,  she  let  the  boat  drift,  and 
soon  forgot  time  and  space  in  the  bewildering  conver 
sation  that  followed. 

"  What  have  you  been  doing  since  I  saw  you  last?" 
she  asked,  looking  as  rosy  as  a  milkmaid,  as  she  stopped 
rowing  and  tied  up  her  wind-tossed  hair. 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  55 

*'  Working  like  a  beaver.  You  see  "  —  and  then,  to 
her  utter  amazement,  Frank  entered  into  an  elaborate 
statement  of  his  affairs,  quite  as  if  she  understood  all 
about  it  and  her  opinion  was  valuable.  It  was  all  Greek 
to  Anna,  but  she  was  immensely  gratified ;  for  it  was 
just  the  way  the  boy  used  to  tell  her  his  small  concerns  in 
the  days  when  each  had  firm  faith  in  the  other's  wisdom. 
She  tried  to  look  as  if  she  understood  all  about  "  in 
vestments,  percentage,  and  long  credit ; "  but  she  was 
out  of  her  depth  in  five  minutes,  and  dared  say  nothing, 
lest  she  should  betray  her  lamentable  ignorance  on  all 
matters  of  business.  She  got  out  of  the  scrape  by 
cleverly  turning  the  conversation  to  old  times,  and 
youthful  reminiscences  soon  absorbed  them  both. 

The  faint,  far-off  sound  of  a  gong  recalled  her  to  the 
fact  that  breakfast  was  nearly  ready ;  and,  turning  the 
boat,  she  was  dismayed  to  see  how  far  they  had  floated. 
She  stopped  talking  and  rowed  her  best ;  but  wind  and 
tide  were  against  her,  she  was  faint  with  hunger,  and 
her  stalwart  passenger  made  her  task  doubly  hard.  He 
offered  no  help,  however ;  but  did  the  luxurious  to  the 
life,  leaning  back,  with  his  hat  off,  and  dabbling  his 
hands  in  the  way  that  most  impedes  the  progress  of  a 
boat. 

Pride  kept  Anna  silent  till  her  face  was  scarlet,  her 
palms  blistered,  and  her  breath  most  gone.  Then,  and 
not  till  then,  did  she  condescend  to  say,  with  a  gasp, 
poorly  concealed  by  an  amiable  smile,  — 

"Do  you  care  to  row?  I  ought  to  have  asked  you 
before." 

"  I'm  very  comfortable,  thank  you,"  answered  Frank. 
Then,  as  an  expression  of  despair  flitted  over  poor 


>  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

Anna's  face,  he  added  bluntly,  "I'm  getting  desper 
ately  hungry,  so  I  don't  care  if  I  do  shorten  the  voyage 
&  bit." 

With  a  sigh  of  relief,  she  rose  to  change  seats,  and, 
expecting  him  to  help  her,  she  involuntarily  put  out  her 
hands,  as  she  passed.  But  Frank  was  busy  turning 
back  his  cuff's,  and  never  stirred  a  finger;  so  that  she 
would  have  lost  her  balance  and  gone  overboard  if  she 
had  not  caught  his  arm. 

"What's  the  matter,  skipper?"  he  asked,  standing 
the  sudden  grip  as  steadily  as  a  mast. 

"  Why  didn't  you  help  me  ?  You  have  no  more 
manners  than  a  turtle  !  "  cried  Anna,  dropping  into  the 
seat  with  the  frown  of  a  spoiled  beauty,  accustomed  to 
be  gallantly  served  and  supported  at  every  step. 

Frank  only  added  to  his  offence  by  laughing,  as  he 
said  carelessly,  — 

"  You.  seemed  so  independent,  I  didn't  like  to  inter 
fere." 

"  So,  if  I  had  gone  overboard,  you  would  not  have 
fished  me  out,  unless  I  asked  you  to  do  it,  I  suppose?" 

';  In  that  case,  I'm  afraid  I  shouldn't  have  waited  for 
orders.  We  can't  spare  you  to  the  mermen  yet." 

Something  in  the  look  he  gave  her  appeased  Anna's 
resentment;  and  she  sat  silently  admiring  the  strong 
swift  strokes  that  sent  the  "Gull"  skimming  over  the 
water.  / 

"  Nov;  too  late  for  breakfast,  after  all,"  she  said  gra 
ciously,  as  they  reached  the  wharf,  where  several  early 
strollers  stood  watching  their  approach. 

"Poor  thing!  You  look  as  if  you  needed  it,"  an 
swered  Frank.  But  he  let  her  get  out  alone,  to  the 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  57 

norror  of  Messrs.  Barlow,  King,  &  Co. ;  and,  wh.le  she 
fastened  the  boat,  Frank  stood  settling  his  hatband, 
with  the  most  exasperating  unconsciousness  of  his  duty. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  yourself  this  morn 
ing?  "  she  asked,  as  she  walked  up  the  rocky  path,  with 
oo  arm  to  lean  upon. 

"  Fish.     Will  you  come  along  ?  " 

"  No,  thank  you.  One  gets  so  burnt.  I  shall  go  to 
my  hammock  under  the  pine,"  was  the  graciously  sug 
gestive  reply  of  the  lady  who  liked  a  slave  to  fan  or 
swina:  her,  and  seldom  lacked  several  to  choose  from. 

O  ' 

"  See  you  at  dinner,  then.  My  room  is  in  the  Cot 
tage.  So  by-by  for  the  present."  And,  with  a  nod> 
Frank  strolled  away,  leaving  the  lovely  Miss  West  to 
mount  the  steps  and  cross  the  hall  unescorted. 

"  The  dear  fellow's  manners  need  polish.  I  must 
take  him  in  hand,  I  see.  And  yet  he  is  very  nice,  in 
fcpite  of  his  brusque  ways,"  thought  Anna,  indulgently. 
And  more  than  once  that  morning  she  recalled  his  bluff 
11  Hullo,  Anna ! "  as  she  swung  languidly  in  her  ham 
mock,  with  a  devoted  being  softly  reading  Tennyson  to 
her  inattentive  ears. 

At  dinner  she  appeared  in  unusual  spirits,  and  kept 
her  end  of  the  table  in  a  ripple  of  merriment  by  her 
witty  and  satirical  sallies,  privately  hoping  that  hei 
opposite  neighbor  would  discover  that  she  could  talk 
well  when  she  chose  to  do  so.  But  Frank  was  deep  in 
politics,  discussing  some  new  measure  with  such  ear 
nestness  and  eloquence  that  Anna,  pausing  to  listen  for 
a  moment,  forgot  her  lively  gossip  in  one  of  the  great 
questions  of  the  hour. 

She  was  listening  with  silent  interest,  when  Frank 


o8  ANN  A- 8   WHIM. 

suddenly  appealed  to  her  to  confirm  some  statement  lie 
had  just  made ;  and  she  was  ignominiously  obliged  to 
confess  she  knew  too  little  about  the  matter  to  give  any 
opinion.  No  compliment  ever  paid  her  was  more  nat 
tering  than  his  way  of  turning  to  her  now  and  then,  aa 
if  including  her  in  the  discussion  as  a  matter  of  course; 
and  never  had  she  regretted  any  thing  more  keenly 
than  she  did  her  ignorance  on  a  subject  that  every  man 
and  woman  should  understand  and  espouse. 

She  did  her  best  to  look  intelligent;  racked  her  brain 
to  remember  facts  which  she  had  heard  discussed  for 
weeks,  without  paying  any  attention  to  them;  and, 
thanks  to  her  quick  wit  and  womanly  sympathy,  she 
managed  to  hold  her  own,  saying  little,  but  looking 
much. 

The  instant  dinner  was  over,  she  sent  a  servant  tc  „>' 
the  reading-room  for  a  file  of  late  papers,  and,  retiring 
to  a  secluded  corner,  read  up  with  a  diligence  that  not 
only  left  her  with  clearer  ideas  on  one  subject,  but  also 
a  sense  of  despair  at  her  own  deficiencies  in  the  knowl 
edge  of  many  others. 

"  I  really  must  have  a  course  of  solid  reading.  I  do 
believe  that  is  what  I  need;  and  I'll  ask  Frank  where 
to  begin.  He  always  was  an  intelligent  boy ;  but  1 
was  surprised  to  hear  how  well  he  talked.  I  was  act 
ually  proud  of  him.  I  wonder  where  he  is,  by  the 
way.  Clara  wants  to  be  introduced,  and  I  want  to  see 
how  he  strikes  her." 

Leaving   her   hiding-place,   Anna   walked    forth    in 
search  of  her  friends,  looking   unusually  bright   and  ^ 
beautiful,  for  her  secret  studies  had  waked  her  up  and 
lent  her  face  the  higher  charm  it  needed.     Clara  ap- 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  9 

peared  first.  The  new-comer  had  already  been  pre 
sented  to  her,  and  she  professed  herself  "perfectly 
fascinated."  "  Such  a  personable  man  !  Quite  distin 
guished,  you  know,  and  so  elegant  in  his  manners! 
Devoted,  graceful,  and  altogether  charming." 

"You  like  his  manners,  do  you?"  and  Anna  smiled 
at  Clara's  enthusiasm. 

"Of  course  I  do;  for  they  have  all  the  polish  of 
foreign  travel,  with  the  indescribable  something  which 
a  really  fine  character  lends  to  every  little  act  and 
word." 

"  Frank  has  never  been  abroad,  and  if  I  judged  his 
character  by  his  manners  I  should  say  he  was  rather  a 
rough  customer,"  said  Anna,  finding  fault  because  Claia 
praised. 

"  You  are  so  fastidious,  nothing  ever  suits  you,  dear. 
I  didn't  expect  to  like  this  old  friend  of  yours.  But  I 
frankly  confess  I  do  immensely ;  so,  if  you  are  tired  of 
him,  I'll  take  him  off  your  hands." 

"  Thank  you,  love.  You  are  welcome  to  poor  Frank, 
if  you  can  win  him.  Men  are  apt  to  be  more  loyal  to 
friendship  than  women  ;  and  I  rather  fancy,  from  what 
I  saw  this  morning,  that  he  is  in  no  haste  to  change 
old  friends  for  new." 

Anna  spoke  sweetly,  but  at  heart  was  ill  pleased 
with  Clara's  admiration  of  her  private  property,  as  she 
considered  "poor  Frank,"  and  inwardly  resolved  to 
have  no  poaching  on  her  preserves. 

Just  then  the  gentleman  in  question  came  up,  saying 
to  Anna,  in  his  abrupt  way,  — 

"  Every  one  is  going  to  ride,  so  I  cannot  get  the 
best  horses ;  but  I've  secured  two,  and  now  I  want  a 


ANNA'S    WHIM. 

companion.  Will  you  come  for  a  good  old-time 
gallop  ?  " 

Anna  thought  of  her  blistered  hands,  and  hesitated, 
till  a  look  at  Clara's  hopeful  face  decided  her  to  accept. 
She  did  so,  and  rode  like  an  Amazon  for  several  hours, 
in  spite  of  heat,  dust,  and  a  hard-mouthed  horse,  who 
nearly  pulled  her  arms  out  of  the  sockets. 

She  hoped  to  find  a  chance  to  consult  Frank  about 
her  course  of  useful  reading  ;  but  he  seemed  intent  on 
the  "  old-time  gallop,"  and  she  kept  up  gallantly  till 
the  ride  was  over,  when  she  retired  to  her  room,  quite 
exhausted,  but  protesting  with  beroic  smiles  that  she 
had  had  a  delightful  time. 

She  did  not  appear  at  tea;  but  later  in  the  evening, 
tvhen  an  informal  dance  was  well  under  way,  she  sailed 
in  on  the  arm  of  a  distinguished  old  gentleman,  "  evi 
dently  prepared  to  slay  her  thousands,"  as  young  Bar 
low  said,  observing  the  unusual  brilliancy  of  her  eyes 
and  the  elaborate  toilette  she  had  made. 

"  She  means  mischief  to-night.  Who  is  to  be  the 
victim,  I  wonder  ?  "  said  another  man,  putting  up  his 
glass  for  a  survey  of  the  charmer. 

"  Not  the  party  who  came  last  evening.  He  is  only 
an  old  friend,"  she  says. 

"He  might  be  her  brother  or  her  husband, judging 
by  the  cavalier  way  in  which  he  treats  her.  I  could 
have  punched  his  head  this  morning,  when  he  let  her 
pull  up  that  boat  alone,"  cried  a  youthful  adorer,  glar 
ing  irefully  at  the  delinquent,  lounging  in  a  distant 
doorway. 

"  If  she  said  he  was  an  old  friend,  you  may  be  sure 
he  is  an  accepted  lover.  The  dear  creatures  all  fib  in 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  61 

these  matters;  so  I'll  lay  wagers  to  an  enormous 
amount  that  all  this  splendor  is  for  the  lord  and  mas 
ter,  not  for  our  destruction,"  answered  Barlow,  who 
was  wise  in  the  ways  of  women  and  wary  as  a  moth 
should  be  who  had  burnt  his  wings  more  than  once  at 
the  same  candle. 

Clara  happened  to  overhear  these  pleasing  remarks, 
and  five  minutes  after  they  were  uttered  she  breathed 
them  tenderly  into  Anna's  ear.  A  scornful  smile  was 
all  the  answer  she  received ;  but  the  beauty  was  both 
pleased  and  annoyed,  and  awaited  with  redoubled 
interest  the  approach  of  the  old  friend,  who  was  re 
garded  in  the  light  of  a  successful  lover.  But  he 
seemed  in  no  haste  to  claim  his  privileges,  and  dance 
after  dance  went  by,  while  he  sat  talking  with  the  old 
general  or  absently  watching  the  human  teetotums  that 
spun  about  before  him. 

"  I  can't  stand  this  another  moment ! "  said  Anna 
to  herself,  at  last,  and  beckoned  the  recreant  knight  to 
approach,  with  a  commanding  gesture. 

u  Why  don't  you  dance,  sir  ?  "        t 

"  I've  forgotten  how,  ma'am." 

"  After  all  the  pains  I  took  with  you  when  we  nad 
lessons  together,  years  ago  ?  " 

"  I've  been  too  busy  to  attend  to  trifles  of  that  sort." 

"  Elegant  accomplishments  are  not  trifles,  and  no  one 
should  neglect  them  who  cares  to  make  himself  agree 
able." 

"Well,  I  dpn't  know  that  I  do  care,  as  a  general 
thing." 

"  You  ought  to  care ;  and,  as  a  penance  for  that  rude 
speech,  you  must  dance  this  dance  with  me.  I  cannot 


62  AMNA'S   WHIM. 

let  you  forget  all  your  accomplishments  for  the  sake  ol 
business ;  so  I  shall  do  my  duty  as  a  friend  and  take 
you  in  hand,"  said  Anna,  severely. 

"  You  are  very  kind  ;  but  is  it  worth  the  trouble  ?  * 

"Now,  Frank,  don't  be  provoking  and  ungrateful. 
You  know  you  like  to  give  pleasure,  to  be  cared  for, 
and  to  do  credit  to  your  friends ;  so  just  rub  up  your 
manners  a  bit,  and  be  as  well-bred  as  you  are  sensible 
and  brave  and  good." 

"  Thank  you,  I'll  try.  May  I  have  the  honor,  Miss 
West  ?  "  and  he  bowed  low  before  her,  with  a  smile 
on  his  lips  that  both  pleased  and  puzzled  Anna. 

They  danced  the  dance,  and  Frank  acquitted  himself 
respectably,  but  relapsed  into  his  objectionable  ways 
as  soon  as  the  trial  ended ;  for  the  first  thing  he  said, 
with  a  sigh  of  relief,  was,  — 

"  Come  outsand  talk ;  for  upon  my  life  I  can't  stand 
this  oven  any  longer." 

Anna  obediently  followed,  and,  seating  herself  in  a 
breezy  corner,  waited  to  be  entertained.  But  Frank 
seemed  to  have  forgotten  that  pleasing  duty ;  for, 
perching  himself  on  the  wide  baluster  of  the  piazza,  he 
not  only  proceeded  to  light  a  cigarette,  without  even 
saying,  "  By  your  leave,"  but  coolly  offered  her  one 
also. 

"  How  dare  you ! "  she  said,  much  offended  at  this 
proceeding.  "  I  am  not  one  of  the  fast  girls  who  do 
such  things,  and  I  dislike  it  exceedingly." 

"  You  used  to  smoke  sweet-fern  in  corn-cob  pipes, 
you  remember ;  and  these  are  not  much  stronger,"  he 
said,  placidly  restoring  the  rejected  offering  to  his 
pocket. 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  63 

"I  did  many  foolish  things  then  which  I  desire  to 
forget  now." 

"  And  some  very  sweet  and  sensible  ones,  also.  Ah, 
well !  it  can't  be  helped,  I  suppose." 

Anna  sat  silent  a  moment,  wondering  what  he 
meant ;  and  when  she  looked  up,  she  found  him  pon» 
sively  staring  at  her,  through  a  fragrant  cloud  of 
smoke. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  she  asked,  for  his  eyes  seemed  seek 
ing  something. 

"  I  was  trying  to  see  some  trace  of  the  little  Anna 
I  used  to  know.  I  thought  I'd  found  her  again  this 
morning  in  the  girl  in  the  round  hat ;  but  I  don't  find 
her  anywhere  to-night." 

"  Indeed,  Frank,  I'm  not  so  much  changed  as  I  seem. 
At  least,  to  you  I  am  the  same,  as  far  as  I  can  be.  Do 
believe  it,  and  be  friends,  for  I  want  one  very  much  ?  " 
cried  Anna,  forgetting  every  thing  but  the  desire  to  re 
establish  herself  in  his  good  opinion.  As  she  spoke, 
she  turned  her  face  toward  the  light  and  half  extended 
her  hand,  as  if  to  claim  and  hold  the  old  regard  that 
seemed  about  to  be  withdrawn  from  her. 

Frank  bent  a  little  and  scanned  the  upturned  face 
with  a  keen  glance.  It  flushed  in  me  moonlight  and 
the  lips  trembled  like  an  anxious  child's ;  but  the  eyes 
met  his  with  a  look  both  proud  and  wistful,  candid  and 
sweet,  —  a  look  few  saw  in  those  lovely  eyes,  or,  once 
seeing,  ever  forgot.  Frank  gave  a  little  nod,  as  ii 
satisfied,  and  said,  with  that  perplexing  smile  of  his,  — 

"  Most  people  would  see  only  the  beautiful  Miss  West, 
in  a  remarkably  pretty  gown;  but  I  think  I  catch  a 
glimpse  of  little  Anna,  and  I  am  very  glad  of  it.  You 


64  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

want  a  friend?  Very  good.  I'll  do  my  best  tor  you j 
but  you  must  take  me  as  I  am,  thorns  and  all." 

"I  will,  and  not  mind  if  they  wound  sometimes. 
I  've  had  roses  till  I'm  tired  of  them,  in  spite  of  their 
sweetness." 

As  he  spoke,  Frank  had  taken  the  hand  she  offered, 
and,  having  gravely  shaken  it,  held  the  "  white  wonder" 
for  an  instant,  glancing  from  the  little  blisters  on  th* 
delicate  palm  to  the  rings  that  shone  on  several  fingers. 

"  Are  you  reading  my  fortune  ?  "  asked  Anna,  won 
dering  if  he  was  going  to  be  sentimental  and  kiss  it. 

"  After  a  fashion  ;  for  I  am  looking  to  see  if  there 
is  a  suspicious  diamond  anywhere  about.  Isn't  it  time 
there  was  one?" 

"That  is  not  a  question  for  you  to  ask;"  and  Anna 
caught  away  her  hand,  as  if  one  of  the  thorns  he  spoke 
of  had  suddenly  pricked. 

"Why  not?  We  always  used  to  tell  each  other 
every  thing ;  and,  if  we  are  to  go  on  in  the  old  friendly 
way,  we  must  be  confidential  and  comfortable,  you 
know." 

"You  can  begin  yourself  then,  and  I'll  see  how  I 
like  it,"  said  Anna,  aroused  and  interested,  in  spite  of 
her  maidenly  scruples  about  the  new  arrangement. 

"  I  will,  with  all  my  heart.  To  own  the  truth,  Fve 
been  longing  to  tell  you  something ;  but  I  wasn't  sure 
that  you'd  take  any  interest  in  it,"  began  Frank,  eating 
rose-leaves  with  interesting  embarrassment. 

"  I  can  imagine  what  it  is,"  said  Anna,  quickly,  while 
her  heart  began  to  flutter  curiously,  for  these  confidences 
were  becoming  exciting.  "  You  have  found  your  fate, 
and  are  dying  to  let  everybody  know  how  happy  yoa 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  65 

"I  think  I  have.  But  I'm  not  happy  yet.  I'm 
desperately  anxious,  for  I  cannot  decide  whether  it  is 
a  wise  or  foolish  choice." 

"Who  is  it?" 

"  Never  mind  the  name.  I  haven't  spoken  yet,  and 
perhaps  never  shall ;  so  I  may  as  well  keep  that  to  my 
self, —  for  the  present,  at  least." 

"  Tell  me  what  you  like  then,  and  I  will  ask  no  more 
questions,"  said  Anna,  coldly;  for  this  masculine  dis 
cretion  annoyed  her. 

"  Well,  you  see,  this  dear  girl  is  pretty,  rich,  accom 
plished,  and  admired.  A  little  spoilt,  in  fact ;  but  very 
captivating,  in  spite  of  it.  Now,  the  doubt  in  my  mind 
is  whether  .it  is  wise  to  woo  a  wife  of  this  sort ;  for  I 
know  I  shall  want  a  companion  in  all  things,  not  only 
a  pretty  sweetheart  or  a  graceful  mistress  for  my  house." 

"  I  should  say  it  was  not  wise,"  began  Anna,  decidedly 
then  hastened  to  add,  more  quietly :  "  But  perhaps  you 
only  see  one  side  of  this  girl's  character.  She  may  have 
much  strength  and  sweetness  hidden  away  under  her 
gay  manner,  waiting  to  be  called  out  when  the  right 
mate  comes." 

"  I  often  think  so  myself,  and  long  to  learn  if  I  am 
the  man ;  but  some  frivolous  act,  thoughtless  word,  or 
fashionable  folly  on  her  part  dampens  my  ardor,  and 
makes  me  feel  as  if  I  had  better  go  elsewhere  before 
it  is  too  late." 

"  You  are  not  madly  in  love,  then  ?  " 

"Not  yet;  but  I  should  be  if  I  saw  much  of  her,  for 
when  I  do  I  rather  lose  my  head,  and  am  tempted  to 
fall  upon  my  knees,  regardless  of  time,  place,  and  con« 
sequences." 

6 


(3()  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

Frank  spoke  with  sudden  love  and  longing  in  his 
voice,  and  stretched  out  his  arms  so  suggestively  that 
Anna  started.  But  he  contented  himself  with  gather 
ing  a  rose  from  the  clusters  that  hung  all  about,  and 
Anna  slapped  an  imaginary  mosquito  as  energetically 
as  if  it  had  been  the  unknown  lady,  for  whom  she  felt 
a  sudden  and  inexplicable  dislike. 

"  So  you  think  I'd  better  not  say  to  my  love,  like  the 
mad  gentleman  to  Mrs.  Nickleby,  '  Be  mine,  be  mine '  ?  " 
was  Frank's  next  question,  as  he  sat  with  his  nose  luxu 
riously  buried  in  the  fragrant  heart  of  the  rose. 

"  Decidedly  not.  I'm  sure,  from  the  way  you  speak 
of  her,  that  she  is  not  worthy  of  you;  and  your  passion 
cannot  be  very  deep  if  you  can  quote  Dickens's  nonsense 
at  such  a  moment,"  said  Anna,  more  cheerfully. 

"  It  grows  rapidly,  I  find ;  and  I  give  you  my  word, 
if  I  should  pass  a  week  in  the  society  of  that  lovely 
butterfly,  it  would  be  all  over  with  me  by  Saturday 
night." 

"  Then  don't  do  it." 

"  Ah !  but  I  want  to  desperately.  Do  say  that  I  may, 
just  for  a  last  nibble  at  temptation,  before  I  take  your 
advice  and  go  back  to  my  bachelor  life  again,"  he 
prayed  beseechingly. 

"  Don't  go  back,  love  somebody  else,  and  be  happy, 
There  are  plenty  of  superior  women  in  the  world  whc 
would  be  just  the  thing  for  you.  I  am  sure  you  are 
going  to  be  a  man  of  mark,  and  you  must  have  a  good 
wife,  —  not  a  silly  little  creature,  who  will  be  a  clog 
upon  you  all  your  life.  So  do  take  my  advice,  and  let 
me  help  you,  if  I  can." 

Anna  spoke  earnestly,  and  her  face  quite  shone  with 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  67 

friendly  zeal ;  while  her  eyes  were  full  of  unspoken  ad 
miration  and  regard  for  this  friend,  who  seemed  totter- 
ing  on  the  verge  of  a  precipice.  She  expected  a  serious 
reply,  —  thanks,  at  least,  for  her  interest ;  and  great  was 
her  surprise  to  see  Frank  lean  back  against  the  vine- 
wreathed  pillar  behind  him,  and  laugh  till  a  shower  c 
rose-leaves  came  fluttering  down  on  both  their  heads. 

"  I  don't  see  any  cause  for  such  unseemly  merriment," 
was  her  dignified  reproof  of  this  new  impropriety. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon.  I  really  couldn't  help  it,  for 
the  comical  contrast  between  your  sage  counsels  and 
your  blooming  face  upset  me.  Your  manner  was  quite 
maternal  and  most  impressive,  till  I  looked  at  you  in 
your  French  finery,  and  then  it  was  all  up  with  me," 
said  Frank,  penitently,  though  his  eyes  still  danced 
with  mirth. 

The  compliment  appeased  Anna's  anger ;  and,  folding 
her  round  white  arms  on  the  railing  in  front  of  her,  she 
looked  up  at  him  with  a  laugh  as  blithe  as  his  own. 

"  I  dare  say  I  was  absurdly  sober  and  important ;  but 
you  see  it  is  so  long  since  I  have  had  a  really  serious 
thought  in  my  head  or  felt  a  really  sincere  interest  in 
any  one's  affairs  but  my  own  that  I  overdid  the  matter. 
If  you  don't  care  for  my  advice,  I'll  take  it  all  back ;  and 
you  can  go  and  marry  your  butterfly  as  soon  as  you 
like." 

"  I  rather  think  I  shall,"  said  Frank,  slowly.  "  For 
I  fancy  she  has  got  a  hidden  self,  as  you  suggested,  and 
I'd  rather  like  to  find  it  out.  One  judges  people  so 
much  by  externals  that  it  is  not  fair.  Now,  you,  for 
instance,  if  you  won't  mind  my  saying  it,  don't  show 
half  your  good  points ;  and  a  casual  observer  would 


68  ANNA'S   WHIM. 

consider  you  merely  a  fashionable  woman,  —  lovely,  but 
shallow." 

"As  you  did  the  last  time  we  met,"  put  in  Anna> 
sharply. 

If  she  expected  him  to  deny  it,  she  was  mistaken 
for  he  answered,  with  provoking  candor,  — 

"  Exactly.  And  I  quite  grieved  about  it ;  for  I  used 
to  be  very  fond  of  my  little  playmate  and  thought 
she'd  make  a  fine  woman.  I'm  glad  I've  seen  you 
again;  for  I  find  I  was  unjust  in  my  first  judgment, 
and  this  discovery  gives  me  hope  that  I  may  have  been 
mistaken  in  the  same  way  about  my  —  well,  we'll  say 
sweetheart.  It's  a  pretty  old  word  and  I  like  it." 

*'  If  he  only  would  forget  that  creature  a  minute  and 
talk  about  something  more  interesting ! "  sighed  Anna 
to  herself.  But  she  answered,  meekly  enough :  "  I  knew 
you  were  disappointed  in  me,  and  I  did  not  wonder 
for  I  am  not  good  for  much,  thanks  to  my  foolish  edu 
cation  and  the  life  I  have  led  these  last  few  years.  But 
I  do  sincerely  wish  to  be  more  of  a  woman,  only  I  have 
no  one  to  tell  me  how.  Everybody  flatters  me  and"  — 

"  I  don't !  "  cried  Frank,  promptly. 

"That's  true."  And  Anna  could  not  help  laughing 
in  the  middle  of  her  confessions  at  the  tone  of  virtuous 
satisfaction  with  which  he  repelled  the  accusation. 
"  No,"  she  continued,  "  you  are  honest  enough  for  any 
one ;  and  I  like  it,  though  it  startles  me  now  and  then, 
it  is  so  new." 

"I  hope  I'm  not  disrespectful,"  said  Frank,  busily 
removing  the  thorns  from  the  stem  of  his  flower. 

"  Oh,  no  !  Not  that  exactly.  But  you  treat  me  very 
much  as  if  I  was  a  sister  or  a  —  masculine  friend.* 


ANNA'S   WHIM.  69 

Anna  meant  to  quote  the  expression  Clara  had  re 
ported  ;  but  somehow  the  word  "  wife "  was  hard  to 
utter,  and  she  finished  the  sentence  differently. 

"And  you  don't  like  it?"  asked  Frank,  lifting  the 
rose  to  hide  the  mischievous  smile  that  lurked  about 
his  mouth. 

"  Yes,  I  do,  —  infinitely  better  than  the  sentimental 
homage  other  men  pay  me  or  the  hackneyed  rubbish 
they  talk.  It  does  me  good  to  be  a  little  neglected ; 
and  I  don't  mind  it  from  you,  because  you  more  than 
atone  for  it  by  talking  to  me  as  if  I  could  understand 
a  man's  mind  and  had  one  of  my  own." 

"  Then  you  don't  quite  detest  me  for  my  rough  ways 
and  egotistical  confidences?"  asked  Frank,  as  if  sud 
denly  smitten  with  remorse  for  the  small  sins  of  the  day. 

"  No,  I  rather  fancy  it,  for  it  seems  like  old  times, 
when  you  and  I  played  together.  Only  then  I  could 
help  you  in  many  ways,  as  you  helped  me ;  but  now  I 
don't  seem  to  know  any  thing,  and  can  be  of  no  use  to 
you  or  any  one  else.  I  should  like  to  be ;  and  I  think, 
if  you  would  kindly  tell  me  what  books  to  read,  what 
people  to  know,  and  what  faculties  to  cultivate,  I  might 
become  something  besides  '  a  fashionable  woman,  lovely 
but  shallow.' " 

There  was  a  little  quiver  of  emotion  in  Anna's  voice 
as  she  uttered  the  last  words  that  did  not  escape  her 
companion's  quick  ear.  But  he  only  smiled  a  look  of 
heartfelt  satisfaction  to  the  rose,  and  answered  soberly . 

"  Now  that  is  a  capital  idea,  and  I'll  do  it  with  pleas 
ure.  I  have  often  wondered  how  you  bright  girls  could 
be  contented  with  such  an  empty  sort  of  life.  We 
fellows  are  just  as  foolish  for  a  time,  I  know,  —  far  worse 


70  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

in  the  crops  of  wild  oats  we  sow ;  but  we  have  to  pull 
up  and  go  to  work,  and  that  makes  men  of  us.  Mar 
riage  ought  to  do  that  for  women,  I  suppose ;  but  it 
doesn't  seem  to  nowadays,  and  I  do  pity  you  poor  little 
things  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart." 

"  I'm  ready  now  to  '  pull  up  and  go  to  work.'  Show 
me  how,  Frank,  and  I'll  change  your  pity  into  respect," 
said  Anna,  casting  off  her  lace  shawl,  as  if  preparing  for 
immediate  action  ;  for  his  tone  of  masculine  superiority 
rather  nettled  her. 

"  Come,  I'll  make  a  bargain  with  you.  I'll  give  you 
something  strong  and  solid  to  brace  up  your  mind,  and 
in  return  you  shall  polish  my  manners,  see  to  my 
morals,  and  keep  my  heart  from  wasting  itself  on  false 
idols.  Shall  we  do  this  for  one  another,  Anna?" 

"  Yes,  Frank,"  she  answered  heartily.  Then,  as 
Clara  was  seen  approaching,  she  added  playfully,  "  All 
this  is  sub  rosa,  you  understand." 

He  handed  her  the  flower  without  a  word,  as  if  the 
emblem  of  silence  was  the  best  gage  he  could  offer. 
Many  flowers  had  been  presented  to  the  beauty ;  but 
none  were  kept  so  long  and  carefully  as  the  thornless 
rose  her  old  friend  gave  her,  with  a  cordial  smile  that 
warmed  her  heart. 

A  great  deal  can  happen  in  a  week,  and  the  seven 
days  that  followed  that  moonlight  tete-ti-tete  seemed  to 
Anna  the  fullest  and  the  happiest  she  had  ever  known. 
She  had  never  worked  so  hard  in  her  life ;  for  her  new 
tutor  gave  her  plenty  to  do,  and  she  studied  in  secret 
to  supply  sundry  deficiencies  which  she  was  too  proud 
to  confess.  No  more  novels  now ;  no  more  sentimental 
poetry,  lounging  in  a  hammock  She  sat  erect  upon  a 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  71 

hard  rock  and  read  Buckle,  Mill,  and  Social  Science  Re 
ports  with  a  diligence  that  appalled  the  banished  daw 
dlers  who  usually  helped  her  kill  time.  There  was  early 
boating,  vigorous  horse  exercise,  and  tramps  over  hill 
and  dale,  from  which  she  returned  dusty,  brown,  and 
tired,  but  as  happy  as  if  she  had  discovered  something 
fairer  and  grander  than  wild  flowers  or  the  ocean  in  its 
changeful  moods.  There  were  afternoon  concerts  in 
the  breezy  drawing-rooms,  when  others  were  enjoying 
siestas,  and  Anna  sang  to  her  one  listener  as  she  had 
never  sung  before.  But  best  of  all  were  the  moonlight 
seances  among  the  roses ;  for  there  they  interchanged 
interesting  confidences  and  hovered  about  those  dan 
gerous  but  delightful  topics  that  need  the  magic  of  a 
midsummer  night  to  make  the  charm  quite  perfect. 

Anna  intended  to  do  her  part  honorably ;  but  soon 
forgot  to  correct  her  pupil's  manners,  she  was  so  busy 
taking  care  of  his  heart.  She  presently  discovered  that 
he  treated  other  women  in  the  usual  way ;  and  at  first 
it  annoyed  her  that  she  was  the  only  one  whom  he 
allowed  to  pick  up  her  own  fan,  walk  without  an  arm, 
row,  ride,  and  take  care  of  herself  as  if  she  was  a  man. 
But  she  also  discovered  that  she  was  the  only  woman 
to  wtiom  he  talked  as  to  an  equal,  in  whom  he  seemed 
to  find  sympathy,  inspiration,  and  help,  and  for  whom 
he  frankly  showed  not  admiration  alone,  but  respect, 
confidence,  and  affection. 

This  made  the  loss  of  a  little  surface  courtesy  too 
trifling  for  complaint  or  reproof;  this  stimulated  and 
delighted  her ;  and,  in  striving  to  deserve  and  secure 
it,  she  forgot  every  thing  else,  prouder  to  be  one  man's 
friend  than  the  idol  of  a  dozen  lovers. 


72  ANNAS    WHIM. 

What  the  effect  of  this  new  league  was  upon  the 
other  party  was  less  evident ;  for,  being  of  the  unde 
monstrative  sex,  he  kept  his  observations,  discoveries, 
and  satisfaction  to  himself,  with  no  sign  of  especial 
interest,  except  now  and  then  a  rapturous  allusion  to 
his  sweetheart,  as  if  absence  was  increasing  his  passion 

Anna  tried  to  quench  his  ardor,  feeling  sure,  she  said 
that  it  was  a  mistake  to  lavish  so  much  love  upon  9 
person  who  was  so  entirely  unworthy  of  it.  But  Frank 
seemed  blind  on  this  one  point ;  and  Anna  suffered 
many  a  pang,  as  day  after  day  showed  her  some  new 
virtue,  grace,  or  talent  in  this  perverse  man,  who 
seemed  bent  on  throwing  his  valuable  self  away.  She 
endeavored  to  forget  it,  avoided  the  subject  as  much 
as  possible,  and  ignored  the  existence  of  this  incon 
venient  being  entirely.  But  as  the  week  drew  to  an 
end  a  secret  trouble  looked  out  at  her  eyes,  a  secret 
unrest  possessed  her,  and  every  moment  seemed  to 
grow  more  precious  as  it  passed,  each  full  of  a  bitter 
sweet  delight  never  known  before. 

"  I  must  be  off  to-morrow,"  said  Frank,  on  the  Sat 
urday  evening,  as  they  strolled  together  on  the  beach, 
while  the  sun  set  gloriously  and  the  great  waves  broke 
musically  on  the  sands. 

"  Such  a  short  holiday,  after  all  those  months  of 
work ! "  answered  Anna,  looking  away,  lest  he  should 
see  how  wistful  her  tell-tale  eyes  were. 

"  I  may  take  a  longer  holiday,  the  happiest  a  man 
can  have,  if  somebody  will  go  with  me.  Anna,  I've 
made  up  my  mind  to  try  my  fate,"  he  added  impetu 
ously. 

"  I  have  warned  you ,  I  can  do  no  more."     Which 


ANNA'S   WHIM.  73 

was  quite  true,  for  the  poor  girl's  heart  sunk  at  his 
words,  and  for  a  moment  all  the  golden  sky  was  a  blur 
before  her  eyes. 

"  I  won't  be  warned,  thank  you ;  for  I'm  quite  sure 
now  that  I  love  her.  Nothing  like  absence  to  settle 
that  point.  I've  tried  it,  and  I  can't  get  on  without 
her ;  so  I'm  going  to  '  put  my  fortune  to  the  touch  and 
win  or  lose  it  all.' " 

"  If  you  truly  love  her,  I  hope  you  will  win,  and  find 
her  the  wife  you  deserve.  But  think  well  before  you 
put  your  happiness  into  any  woman's  hands,"  said 
Anna,  bravely  trying  to  forget  herself. 

"  Bless  you !  I've  hardly  thought  of  any  thing  else 
this  week!  I've  enjoyed  myself,  though  ;  and  am  very 
grateful  to  you  for  making  my  visit  so  pleasant,"  Frank 
added  warmly. 

"  Have  I  ?  I'm  so  glad ! "  said  Anna,  as  simply  as 
a  pleased  child ;  for  real  love  had  banished  all  her  small 
coquetries,  vanities,  and  affectations,  as  sunshine  absorbs 
the  mists  that  hide  a  lovely  landscape. 

"  Indeed,  you  have.  All  the  teaching  has  not  been 
on  my  side,  I  assure  you ;  and  I'm  not  too  proud  to  own 
my  obligation  to  a  woman.  We  lonely  fellows,  who 
have  neither  mother,  sister,  nor  wife,  need  some  gentle 
eoul  to  keep  us  from  getting  selfish,  hard,  and  worldly ; 
and  few  are  so  fortunate  as  I  in  having  a  friend  like 
little  Anna." 

"  Oh,  Frank !  what  have  I  done  for  you  ?  I  haven't 
dared  to  teach  one  so  much  wiser  and  stronger  than 
myself.  I've  only  wanted  to,  and  grieved  because  I 
was  so  ignorant,  so  weak,  and  silly,"  cried  Anna,  glow 
ing  beautifully  with  surprise  and  pleasure  at  this  un 
expected  revelation. 


74  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

"Your  humility  blinded  you;  yet  your  unconscious* 
ness  was  half  the  charm.  I'll  tell  you  what  you  did, 
dear.  A  man's  moral  sense  gets  blunted  knocking 
about  this  rough-and-tumble  world,  where  the  favorit0 
maxim  is,  'Every  man  for  himself  and  the  Devil  take 
the  hindmost.'  It  is  so  with  me ;  and  in  many  of  our 
conversations  on  various  subjects,  while  I  seemed  to  be 
teaching  you,  your  innocent  integrity  was  rebuking  my 
worldly  wisdom,  your  subtle  instincts  were  pointing 
out  the  right  which  is  above  all  policy,  your  womanly 
charity  softening  my  hard  judgments,  and  your  simple 
faith  in  the  good,  the  beautiful,  the  truly  brave  was 
waking  up  the  high  and  happy  beliefs  that  lay,  not 
dead,  but  sleeping,  in  my  soul.  All  this  you  did  for 
me,  Anna,  and  even  more;  for,  in  showing  me  the  hid 
den  side  of  your  nature,  I  found  it  so  sweet  and  deep 
and  worshipful  that  it  restores  my  faith  in  womankind, 
and  shows  me  all  the  lovely  possibilities  that  may  lie 
folded  up  under  the  frivolous  exterior  of  a  fashionable 
woman." 

Anna's  heart  was  so  full  she  could  not  speak  for  a 
moment;  then  like  a  dash  of  cold  water  came  the 
thought,  "And  all  this  that  I  have  done  has  only  put 
him  further  from  me,  since  it  has  given  him  courage  to 
love  and  trust  that  woman."  She  tried  to  show  only 
pleasure  at  his  praise ;  but  for  the  life  of  her  she  could 
not  keep  a  tone  of  bitterness  out  of  her  voice  as  she 
answered  gratefully,  — 

"  You  are  too  kind,  Frank.  I  can  hardly  believe  that 
I  have  so  many  virtues ;  but  if  I  have,  and  they,  like 
yours,  have  been  asleep,  remember  you  helped  wake 
them  up,  and  so  you  owe  me  nothing.  Keep  your 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  75 

sweet  speeches  for  the  lady  you  go  to  woo.  I  am  con 
tented  with  honest  words  that  do  not  flatter." 

"  You  shall  have  them ; "  and  a  quick  smile  passed 
over  Frank's  face,  as  if  he  knew  what  thorn  pricked 
her  just  then,  and  was  not  ill  pleased  at  the  discovery. 
"  Only,  if  I  lose  my  sweetheart,  I  may  be  sure  that  my 
old  friend  won't  desert  me?"  he  asked,  with  a  sincere 
anxiety  that  was  a  balm  to  Anna's  sore  heart. 

She  did  not  speak,  but  oifered  him  her  hand  with 
a  look  which  said  much.  He  took  it  as  silently,  and, 
holding  it  in  a  firm,  warm  grasp,  led  her  up  to  a  cleft 
in  the  rocks,  where  they  often  sat  to  watch  the  great 
breakers  thunder  in.  As  she  took  her  seat,  he  folded 
his  plaid  about  her  so  tenderly  that  it  felt  like  a  friendly 
arm  shielding  her  from  the  fresh  gale  that  blew  up  from 
the  sea.  It  was  an  unusual  attention  on  his  part,  and 
coming  just  then  it  affected  her  so  curiously  that,  when 
he  lounged  down  beside  her,  she  felt  a  strong  desire  to 
.ay  her  head  on  his  shoulder  and  sob  out,  — 

"  Don't  go  and  leave  me !  No  one  loves  you  half  as 
well  as  I,  or  needs  you  half  so  much !" 

Of  course,  she  did  nothing  of  the  sort ;  but  began  to 
sing,  as  she  covertly  whisked  away  a  rebellious  tear. 
Frank  soon  interrupted  her  music,  however,  by  a  heavy 
sigh ;  and  followed  up  that  demonstration  with  the 
tragical  announcement,  — 

"  Anna,  I've  got  something  awful  to  tell  you." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  she  asked,  with  the  resignation  of  one 
who  has  already  heard  the  worst. 

u  It  is  so  bad  that  I  can't  look  you  in  the  face  while 
I  tell  it.  Listen  calmly  till  I  am  done,  and  then  pitch 
me  overboard  if  you  like,  for  I  deserve  it,"  was  hia 
cheerful  beginning 


7  6  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

"  Go  on."  And  Anna  prepared  herself  to  receive 
some  tremendous  shock  with  masculine  firmness. 

Frank  pulled  his  hat  over  his  eyes,  and,  looking 
away  from  her,  said  rapidly,  with  an  odd  sound  in  his 
voice,  — 

"  The  night  I  came  I  was  put  in  a  room  opening  on 
the  back  piazza ;  and,  lying  there  to  rest  and  cool  after 
my  journey,  I  heard  two  ladies  talking.  I  knocked  my 
boots  about  to  let  them  know  I  was  near ;  but  they  took 
no  notice,  so  I  listened.  Most  women's  gabble  would 
have  sent  me  to  sleep  in  five  minutes ;  but  this  was 
rather  original,  and  interested  me,  especially  when  I 
found  by  the  names  mentioned  that  I  knew  one  of  the 
parties.  I've  been  trying  your  experiment  all  the  week. 
Anna,  how  do  you  like  it  ?  " 

She  did  not  answer  for  a  moment,  being  absorbed  in 
swift  retrospection.  Then  she  colored  to  her  hat-brim, 
looked  angry,  hurt,  amused,  gratified,  and  ashamed,  all 
in  a  minute,  and  said  slowly,  as  she  met  his  laughing 
eyes,  — 

"  Better  than  I  thought  I  should." 

"  That's  good !  Then  you  forgive  me  for  my  eaves 
dropping,  my  rudeness,  and  manifold  iniquities?  It 
Was  abominable ;  but  I  could  not  resist  the  temptation 
oi  testing  your  sincerity.  It  was  great  fun ;  ^ut  I'm 
not  sure  that  I  shall  not  get  the  worst  of  it,  after  all," 
uaid  Frank,  sobering  suddenly. 

"  You  have  played  so  many  jokes  upon  me  in  old 
times  that  I  don't  find  it  hard  to  forgive  this  one; 
though  I  think  it  rather  base  in  you  to  deceive  me  so. 
Still,  as  I  have  enjoyed  and  got  a  good  deal  out  of  it, 
I  don't  complain,  and  won't  send  you  overboard  yet," 
said  Anna,  generously. 


ANNA'S    WHIM.  11 

"  Yon  always  were  a  forgiving  angel."  And  Frank 
settled  the  plaid  again  more  tenderly  than  before. 

"  It  was  this,  then,  that  made  you  so  brusque  to  me 
alone,  so  odd  and  careless?  I  could  not  understand  it 
and  it  hurt  me  at  first ;  but  I  thought  it  was  because  we 
had  been  children  together  and  soon  forgot  it,  you  were 
so  kind  and  confidential,  so  helpful  and  straightforward. 
It  was  *  great  fun,'  for  I  always  knew  you  meant  what 
you  said ;  and  that  was  an  unspeakable  comfort  to  me 
in  this  world  of  flattery  and  falsehood.  Yes,  you  may 
laugh  at  me,  Frank,  and  leave  me  to  myself  again.  I 
can  bear  it,  for  I've  proved  that  my  whim  was  a  possi 
bility.  I  see  my  way  now,  and  can  go  on  alone  to  a 
truer,  happier  life  than  that  in  which  you  found  me." 

She  spoke  out  bravely,  and  looked  above  the  level 
sands  and  beyond  the  restless  sea,  as  if  she  had  found 
something  worth  living  for  and  did  not  fear  the  future. 
Frank  watched  her  an  instant,  for  her  face  had  nevei 
worn  so  noble  an  expression  before.  Sorrow  as  well 
as  strength  had  come  into  the  lovely  features,  and  pain 
as  well  ^s  patience  touched  them  with  new  beauty. 
His  own  face  changed  as  he  looked,  as  if  he  let  loose 
some  deop  and  tender  sentiment,  long  held  in  check,  now 
ready  to  rise  and  claim  its  own. 

"Anna,"  he  said  penitently,  "I've  got  one  other  ter 
rible  confession  to  make,  and  then  my  conscience  will 
be  clear.  I  want  to  tell  you  who  my  sweetheart  is. 
Here's  her  picture.  Will  you  look  at  it  ?  " 

She  gave  a  little  shiver,  turned  steadily,  and  looked 
where  he  pointed.  But  all  she  saw  was  her  own  aston 
ished  face  reflected  in  the  shallow  pool  behind  them. 
One  glance  at  Frank  made  any  explanation  needless; 


78  ANNA'S    WHIM. 

indeed,  there  was  no  time  for  her  to  speak  before  some 
thing  closer  than  the  plaid  enfolded  her,  something 
warmer  than  tears  touched  her  cheek,  and  a  voice 
sweeter  to  her  than  wind  or  wave  whispered  tenderly 
in  her  ear,  — 

"  All  this  week  I  have  been  studying  and  enjoying 
far  more  than  you ;  for  I  have  read  a  woman's  heart  and 
learned  to  trust  and  honor  what  I  have  loved  ever  since  I 
was  a  boy.  Absence  proved  this  to  me :  so  I  came  to 
look  for  little  Anna,  and  found  her  better  and  dearer 
than  ever.  May  I  ask  her  to  keep  on  teaching  me? 
Will  she  share  my  work  as  well  as  holiday,  and  be  the 
truest  friend  a  man  can  have  ?  " 

And  Anna  straightway  answered,  "  Yes. " 


TRANSCENDENTAL   WILD   OATS. 
A   CHAPTER   FROM  AN   UNWRITTEN   ROMAiNCE, 


ON  the  first  day  of  June,  184-,  a  large  wagon,  drawn 
by  a  small  horse  and  containing  a  motley  load, 
went  lumbering  over  certain  New  England  hills,  with 
the  pleasing  accompaniments  of  wind,  rain,  and  hail. 
A  serene  man  with  a  serene  child  upon  his  knee  was 
driving,  or  rather  being  driven,  for  the  small  horse  had 
it  all  his  own  way.  A  brown  boy  with  a  William  Penn 
style  of  countenance  sat  beside  him,  firmly  embracing  a 
bust  of  Socrates.  Behind  them  was  an  energetic-looking 
woman,  with  a  benevolent  brow,  satirical  mouth,  and 
eyes  brimful  of  hope  and  courage.  A  baby  reposed 
upon  her  lap,  a  mirror  leaned  against  her  knee,  and  a 
basket  of  provisions  danced  about  at  her  feet,  as  she 
struggled  with  a  large,  unruly  umbrella.  Two  blue- 
eyed  little  girls,  with  hands  full  of  childish  treasures, 
sat  under  one  old  shawl,  chatting  happily  together. 

In  front  of  this  lively  party  stalked  a  tall,  sharp- 
featured  man,  in  a  long  blue  cloak ;  and  a  fourth  small 
girl  trudged  along  beside  him  through  the  mud  as  if 
she  rather  enjoyed  it. 

The  wind  whistled  over  the  bleak  hills ;  the  rain  fell 
in  a  despondent  drizzle,  and  twilight  began  to  fall.  But 
the  calm  man  gazed  as  tranquilly  into  the  fog  as  if  he 


80  TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS. 

beheld  a  radiant  bow  of  promise  spanning  the  gray  sky 
The  cheery  woman  tried  to  cover  every  one  but  herself 
with  the  big  umbrella.  The  brown  boy  pillowed  his 
head  on  the  bald  pate  of  Socrates  and  slumbered  peace 
fully.  The  little  girls  sang  lullabies  to  their  dolls  in 
soft,  maternal  murmurs.  The  sharp-nosed  pedestrian 
inarched  steadily  on,  with  the  blue  cloak  streaming  out 
behind  him  like  a  banner ;  and  the  lively  infant  splashed 
through  the  puddles  with  a  duck-like  satisfaction  pleas 
ant  to  behold. 

Thus  these  modern  pilgrims  journeyed  hopefully  out 
of  the  old  world,  to  found  a  new  one  in  the  wilderness. 

The  editors  of  "  The  Transcendental  Tripod  "  had  re 
ceived  from  Messrs.  Lion  &  Lamb  (two  of  the  aforesaid 
pilgrims)  a  communication  from  which  the  following 
Rtatement  is  an  extract :  — 

"  We  have  made  arrangements  with  the  proprietor 
of  an  estate  of  about  a  hundred  acres  which  liberates 
this  tract  from  human  ownership.  Here  we  shall  prose 
cute  our  effort  to  initiate  a  Family  in  harmony  with  the 
primitive  instincts  of  man. 

"  Ordinary  secular  farming  is  not  our  object.  Fruit, 
grain,  pulse,  herbs,  flax,  and  other  vegetable  products, 
receiving  assiduous  attention,  will  afford  ample  manual 
occupation,  and  chaste  supplies  for  the  bodily  needs. 
It  is  intended  to  adorn  the  pastures  with  orchards,  and 
to  supersede  the  labor  of  cattle  by  tht  spade  and  the 
pruning-knife. 

"  Consecrated  to  human  freedom,  the  land  awaits  the 
sober  culture  of  devoted  men.  Beginning  with  small 
pecuniary  means,  this  enterprise  must  be  rooted  in  a 
reliance  on  the  succors  of  an  ever-bounteous  Providence, 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD   OATS.  81 

whose  vital  affinities  being  secured  by  this  union  with 
an  corrupted  field  and  Unworldly  persons,  the  cares  and 
injuries  of  a  life  of  gain  are  avoided. 

"  The  inner  nature  of  each  member  of  the  Family  is 
at  no  time  neglected.  Our  plan  contemplates  all  such 
disciplines,  cultures,  and  habits  as  evidently  conduce  to 
the  purifying  of  the  inmates. 

"  Pledged  to  the  spirit  alone,  the  founders  anticipate 
no  hasty  or  numerous  addition  to  their  numbers.  The 
kingdom  of  peace  is  entered  only  through  the  gates  of 
.self-denial ;  and  felicity  is  the  test  and  the  reward  of 
loyalty  to  the  unswerving  law  of  Love." 

This  prospective  Eden  at  present  consisted  of  an  old 
red  farm-house,  a  dilapidated  barn,  many  acres  of 
meadow-land,  and  a  grove.  Ten  ancient  apple-trees 
were  all  the  "  chaste  supply  "  which  the  place  offered  as 
yet;  but,  in  the  firm  belief  that  plenteous  orchards 
were  soon  to  be  evoked  from  their  inner  consciousness, 
these  sanguine  founders  had  christened  their  domain 
Fruitlands. 

Here  Timon  Lion  intended  to  found  a  colony  of 
Latter  Day  Saints,  who,  under  his  patriarchal  sway, 
should  regenerate  the  world  and  glorify  his  name  for 
ever.  Here  Abel  Lamb,  with  the  devoutest  faith  in 
the  high  ideal  which  was  to  him  a  living  truth,  desired 
to  plant  a  Paradise,  where  Beauty,  Virtue,  Justice,  and 
Love  might  live  happily  together,  without  the  possi 
bility  of  a  serpent  entering  in.  And  here  his  wife,  un 
converted  but  faithful  to  the  end,  hoped,  after  many 
wanderings  over  the  face  of  the  earth,  to  find  rest  for 
herself  ar.d  a  home  for  her  children. 

"  There  is  our  new  abode,"  announced  the  enthusiast, 
6 


82  TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD   OATS. 

smiling  with  a  satisfaction  quite  undamped  by  the  drops 
dripping  from  his  hat-brim,  as  they  turned  at  length 
into  a  cart-path  that  wound  along  a  steep  hillside  into 
a  barren-looking  valley. 

"  A  little  difficult  of  access,"  observed  his  practical 
wife,  as  she  endeavored  to  keep  her  various  household 
gods  from  going  overboard  with  every  lurch  of  the 
laden  ark. 

"Like  all  good  things.  But  those  who  earnestly 
desire  and  patiently  seek  will  soon  find  us,"  placidly 
responded  the  philosopher  from  the  mud,  through  which 
he  was  now  endeavoring  to  pilot  the  much-enduring 
horse. 

"  Truth  lies  at  the  bottom  of  a  well,  Sister  Hope," 
said  Brother  Timon,  pausing  to  detach  his  small  com 
rade  from  a  gate,  whereon  she  was  perched  for  a  clearer 
gaze  into  futurity. 

"  That's  the  reason  we  so  seldom  get  at  it,  I  sup 
pose,"  replied  Mrs.  Hope,  making  a  vain  clutch  at  the 
mirror,  which  a  sudden  jolt  sent  flying  out  of  her 
hands. 

"We  want  no  false  reflections  here,"  said  Timon, 
with  a  grim  smile,  as  he  crunched  the  fragments  under 
foot  in  his  onward  march. 

Sister  Hope  held  her  peace,  and  looked  wistfully 
through  the  mist  at  her  promised  home.  The  old  red 
house  with  a  hospitable  glimmer  at  its  windows  cheered 
her  eyes;  and,  considering  the  weather,  was  a  fitter 
refuge  than  the  sylvan  bowers  some  of  the  more  ar 
dent  souls  might  have  preferred. 

The  new-comers  were  welcomed  by  one  of  the  elect 
precious,  —  a  regenerate  farmer,  whose  idea  of  reform 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD   OATS.  83 

consisted  chiefly  in  wearing  white  cotton  raiment  and 
shoes  of  untanned  leather.  This  costume,  with  a  snowy 
beard,  gave  him  a  venerable,  and  at  the  same  time  a 
somewhat  bridal  appearance. 

The  goods  and  chattels  of  the  Society  not  having 
arrived,  the  weary  family  reposed  before  the  fire  on 
blocks  of  wood,  while  Brother  Moses  White  regaled 
them  with  roasted  potatoes,  brown  bread  and  water, 
in  two  plates,  a  tin  pan,  and  one  mitg;  his  table  ser 
vice  being  limited.  But,  having  cast  the  forms  and 
vanities  of  a  depraved  world  behind  them,  the  elders 
welcomed  hardship  with  the  enthusiasm  of  new  pio 
neers,  and  the  children  heartily  enjoyed  this  foretaste 
of  what  they  believed  was  to  be  a  sort  of  perpetual 
picnic. 

During  the  progress  of  this  frugal  meal,  two  more 
brothers  appeared.  One  a  dark,  melancholy  man,  clad 
in  homespun,  whose  peculiar  mission  was  to  turn  his 
name  hind  part  before  and  use  as  few  words  as  possi 
ble.  The  other  was  a  bland,  bearded  Englishman,  who 
expected  to  be  saved  by  eating  uncooked  food  and 
going  without  clothes.  He  had  not  yet  adopted  the 
primitive  costume,  however;  but  contented  himself 
with  meditatively  chewing  dry  beans  out  of  a  basket. 

"  Every  meal  should  be  a  sacrament,  and  the  vessels 
used  should  be  beautiful  and  symbolical,"  observed 
Brother  Lamb,  mildly,  righting  the  tin  pan  slipping 
about  on  his  knees.  "  I  priced  a  silver  service  when  in 
town,  but  it  was  too  costly  ;  so  I  get  some  graceful 
j.ups  and  vases  of  Britannia  ware." 

"  Hardest  things  in  the  world  to  keep  bright.  Will 
whiting  be  allowed  in  the  community?"  inquired 


84  TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS. 

Sister  Hope,  with  a  housewife's  interest  in  labor-saving 
institutions. 

"  Such  trivial  questions  will  be  discussed  at  a  more 
fitting  time,"  answered  Brother  Timon,  sharply,  as  he 
burnt  his  fingers  with  a  very  hot  potato.  "Neither 
sugar,  molasses,  milk,  butter,  cheese,  nor  flesh  are  to  be 
used  among  us,  for  nothing  is  to  be  admitted  which  has 
caused  wrong  or  death  to  man  or  beast." 

"  Our  garments  are  to  be  linen  till  we  learn  to  raise 
our  own  cotton  or  some  substitute  for  woollen  fabrics," 
added  Brother  Abel,  blissfully  basking  in  an  imaginary 
future  as  warm  and  brilliant  as  the  generous  fire  before 
him. 

"  Haou  abaout  shoes  ?  "  asked  Brother  Moses,  sur 
veying  his  own  with  interest. 

"  We  must  yield  that  point  till  we  can  manufacture 
an  innocent  substitute  for  leather.  Bark,  wood,  or  some 
durable  fabric  will  be  invented  in  time.  Meanwhile, 
those  who  desire  to  carry  out  our  idea  to  the  fullest 
extent  can  go  barefooted,"  said  Lion,  who  liked  extreme 
measures. 

"  I  never  will,  nor  let  my  girls,"  murmured  rebellious 
Sister  Hope,  under  her  breath. 

"Haou  do  you  cattle'ate  to  treat  the  ten-acre  lot ? 
Ef  things  ain't  'tended  to  right  smart,  we  shan't  hev  no 
crops,"  observed  the  practical  patriarch  in  cotton. 

'•  We  shall  spade  it,"  replied  Abel,  in  such  perfect 
good  faith  that  Moses  said  no  more,  though  he  indulged 
in  a  shake  of  the  head  as  he  glanced  at  hands  that  had 
iield  nothing  heavier  than  a  pen  for  years.  He  was  a 
paternal  old  soul  and  regarded  the  younger  men  as 
promising  boys  on  a  new  sort  of  lark. 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS.  85 

"  What  shall  we  do  for  lamps,  if  we  cannot  use  any 
animal  substance  ?  1  do  hope  light  of  some  sort  is  to 
be  thrown  upon  the  enterprise,"  said  Mrs.  Lamb,  with 
anxiety,  for  in  those  days  kerosene  and  campherie  were 
not,  and  gas  unknown  in  the  wilderness. 

"  We  shall  go  without  till  we  have  discovered  some 
vegetable  oil  or  wax  to  serve  us,"  replied  Brother 
Timon,  in  a  decided  tone,  which  caused  Sister  Hope  to 
resolve  that  her  private  lamp  should  be  always  trimmed, 
if  not  burning. 

"  Each  member  is  to  perform  the  work  for  which 
experience,  strength,  and  taste  best  fit  him,"  continued 
Dictator  Lion.  u  Thus  drudgery  and  disorder  will  be 
avoided  and  harmony  prevail.  We  shall  rise  at  dawn, 
begin  the  day  by  bathing,  followed  by  music;,  and  then 
a  chaste  repast  of  fruit  and  bread.  Each  one  finds  con 
genial  occupation  till  the  meridian  meal ;  when  some 
deep-searching  conversation  gives  rest  to  the  body  and 
development  to  the  mind.  Healthful  labor  again  en- 
gflges  us  till  the  last  meal,  when  we  assemble  in  social 
communion,  prolonged  till  sunset,  when  we  retire  to 
sweet  repose,  ready  for  the  next  day's  activity." 

"What  part  of  the  work  do  you  incline  to  yourself?" 
asked  Sister  Hope,  with  a  humorous  glimmer  in  hei 
keen  eyes. 

"  I  shall  wait  till  it  is  made  clear  to  me.  Being  in 
preference  to  doing  is  the  great  aim,  and  this  comes  ta 
us  rather  by  a  resigned  willingness  than  a  wilful  activ 
ity,  which  is  a  check  to  all  divine  growth,"  responded 
Brother  Timon. 

"  I  thought  so."  And  Mrs.  Lamb  sighed  audibly,  for 
during  the  year  he  had  spent  in  her  family  Bi  other 


86  TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD   OATS. 

Timon  had  so  faithfully  carried  out  his  idea  of  "  being, 
not  doing,"  that  she  had  found  his  "divine  growth" 
both  an  expensive  and  unsatisfactory  process. 

Here  her  husband  struck  into  the  conversation,  his 
face  shining  with  the  light  and  joy  of  the  splendid 
dreams  and  high  ideals  hovering  before  him. 

"  In  these  steps  of  reform,  we  do  not  rely  so  much 
on  scientific  reasoning  or  physiological  skill  as  on  the 
spirit's  dictntes.  The  greater  part  of  man's  duty  con 
sists  in  leaving  alone  much  that  he  now  does.  Shall  I 
stimulate  with  tea,  coffee,  or  wine  ?  No.  Shall  I  con 
sume  flesh  ?  Not  if  I  value  health.  Shall  I  subjugate 
Battle?  Shall  I  claim  property  in  any  created  thing? 
Shall  I  trade  ?  Shall  I  adopt  a  form  of  religion  ?  Shall 
I  interest  myself  in  politics?  To  how  many  of  these 
questions  —  could  we  ask  them  deeply  enough  and 
could  they  be  heard  as  having  relation  to  our  eternal 
welfare  —  would  the  response  be  'Abstain'?" 

A  mild  snore  seemed  to  echo  the  last  word  of  Abel's 
rhapsody,  for  Brother  Moses  had  succumbed  to  mun 
dane  slumber  and  sat  nodding  like  a  massive  ghost. 
Forest  Absalom,  the  silent  man,  and  John  Pease,  the 
English  member,  now  departed  to  the  barn ;  and  Mrs. 
Lamb  led  her  flock  to  a  temporary  fold,  leaving  the 
founders  of  the  "  Consociate  Family  "  to  build  castles 
in  the  air  till  the  fire  went  out  and  the  symposium 
ended  in  smoke. 

The  furniture  arrived  next  day,  and  was  soon  be 
stowed  ;  for  the  principal  property  of  the  community 
consisted  in  books.  To  this  rare  library  was  devoted 
the  best  room  in  the  house,  and  the  few  busts  and  pict 
ures  that  still  survived  many  Sittings  were  added  to 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD   OATS.  87 

beautify  the  sanctuary,  for  here  the  family  was  to  meet 
for  amusement,  instruction,  and  worship. 

Any  housewife  can  imagine  the  emotions  of  Sister 
Hope,  when  she  took  possession  of  a  large,  dilapidated 
kitchen,  containing  an  old  stove  and  the  peculiar  stores 
out  of  which  food  was  to  be  evolved  for  her  little 
family  of  eleven.  Cakes  of  maple  sugar,  dried  peas  and 
beans,  barley  and  hominy,  meal  of  all  sorts,  potatoes, 
and  dried  fruit.  No  milk,  butter,  cheese,  tea,  or  meat, 
appeared.  Even  salt  was  considered  a  useless  luxury 
and  spice  entirely  forbidden  by  these  lovers  of  Spartan 
simplicity.  A  ten  years'  experience  of  vegetarian  vaga 
ries  had  been  good  training  for  this  new  freak,  and  her 
sense  of  the  ludicrous  supported  her  through  many  try 
ing  scenes. 

Unleavened  bread,  porridge,  and  water  for  breakfast : 
bread,  vegetables,  and  water  for  dinner;  bread,  fruit, 
and  water  for  supper  was  the  bill  of  fare  ordained  by 
the  elders.  No  teapot  profaned  that  sacred  stove,  no 
gory  steak  cried  aloud  for  vengeance  from  her  chaste 
gridiron ;  and  only  a  brave  woman's  taste,  time,  and 
temper  were  sacrificed  on  that  domestic  altar. 

The  vexed  question  of  light  was  settled  by  buying 
a  quantity  of  bayberry  wax  for  candles ;  and,  on  dis 
covering  that  no  one  knew  how  to  make  them,  pine- 
knots  were  introduced,  to  be  used  when  absolutely 
necessary.  Being  summer,  the  evenings  were  not  long, 
and  the  weary  fraternity  found  it  no  great  hardship  to 
retire  with  the  birds.  The  inner  light  was  sufficient 
for  most  of  them.  But  Mrs.  Lamb  rebelled.  Evening 
was  the  only  time  she  had  to  herself,  and  while  the 
tired  feet  rested  the  skilful  hands  mended  torn  frocks 


88  TRANSCENDENTAL,    WILD   OATS. 

and  little  stockings,  or  anxious  heart  forgot  its  burden 
in  a  book. 

So  "mother's  lamp"  burned  steadily,  while  the 
philosophers  built  a  new  heaven  and  earth  by  moon 
light  ;  and  through  all  the  metaphysical  mists  and  phil 
anthropic  pyrotechnics  of  that  period  Sister  Hope 
played  her  own  little  game  of  "  throwing  light,"  and 
none  but  the  moths  were  the  worse  for  it. 

Such  farming  probably  was  never  seen  before  since 
Adam  delved.  The  band  of  brothers  began  by  spading 
garden  and  field ;  but  a  few  days  of  it  lessened  their 
ardor  amazingly.  Blistered  hands  and  aching  backs 
suggested  the  expediency  of  permitting  the  use  of 
cattle  till  the  workers  were  better  fitted  for  noble  toil 
by  a  summer  of  the  new  life. 

Brother  Moses  brought  a  yoke  of  oxen  from  his 
farm,  —  at  least,  the  philosophers  thought  so  till  it  was 
discovered  that  one  of  the  animals  was  a  cow ;  and 
Moses  confessed  that  he  "  must  be  let  down  easy,  for  he 
couldn't  live  on  garden  sarse  entirely." 

Great  was  Dictator  Lion's  indignation  at  this  lapse 
from  virtue.  But  time  pressed,  the  work  must  be 
done ;  so  the  meek  cow  was  permitted  to  wear  the 
yoke  and  the  recreant  brother  continued  to  enjoy  for 
bidden  draughts  in  the  barn,  which  dark  proceeding 
caused  the  children  to  regard  him  as  one  set  apart  for 
destruction. 

The  sowing  was  equally  peculiar,  for,  owing  to  some 
mistake,  the  three  brethren,  who  devoted  themselves  to 
this  graceful  task,  found  when  about  half  through  the 
job  that  each  had  been  sowing  a  different  sort  of  grain 
in  tb<i  same  field ;  a  mistake  which  caused  much  per- 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS.  89 

plexity,  as  it  could  not  be  remedied;  but,  after  a  long 
consultation  and  a  good  deal  of  laughter,  it  was  de 
cided  to  say  nothing  and  see  what  would  come  of  it. 

The  garden  was  planted  with  a  generous  supply  of 
useful  roots  arid  herbs;  but,  as  manure  was  not  allowed 
to  profane  the  virgin  soil,  few  of  these  vegetable  treas 
ures  ever  came  up.  Purslane  reigned  supreme,  and  the  ] 
disappointed  planters  ate  it  philosophically,  deciding 
that  Nature  knew  what  was  best  for  them,  and  would 
generously  supply  their/  needs,  if  they  could  only  learn 
to  digest  her  "sallets"  and  wild  roots. 

The  orchard  was  laid  out,  a  little  grafting  done,  new 
trees  and  vines  set,  regardless  of  the  unfit  season  and 
entire   ignorance   of  the   husbandmen,   who   honestly 
believed  that  in  the  autumn  they  would  reap  a  boun 
teous  harvest. 

Slowly  things  got  into  order,  and  rapidly  rumors  of 
the  new  experiment  went  abroad,  causing  many  strange 
spirits  to  flock  thither,  for  in  those  days  communities 
were  the  fashion  and  transcendentalism  raged  wildly. 
Some  came  to  look  on  and  laugh,  some  to  be  supported 
in  poetic  idleness,  a  few  to  believe  sincerely  and  work 
heartily.  Each  member  was  allowed  to  mount  his 
favorite  hobby  and  ride  it  to  his  heart's  content.  Very 
queer  were  some  of  the  riders,  and  very  rampant  some 
of  the  hobbies.  ^^^ 

One  youth,  believing  that  language  was  of  little  ; 
consequence  if  the  spirit  was  only  right,  startled  / 
new-comers  by  blandly  greeting  them  with  "good-  \ 
morning,  damn  you,"  and  other  remarks  of  an  equally  / 
mixed  order.  A  second  irrepressible  being  held  \ 
that  all  the  emotions  of  the  soul  should  be  freely  ex-  ) 


90  TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD   OATS. 

pressed,  and  illustrated  his  theory  by  antics  that  would 
have  sent  him  to  a  lunatic  asylum,  if,  as  an  unregen- 
erate  wag  said,  he  had  not  already  been  in  one.  When 
his  spirit  soared,  he  climbed  trees  and  shouted ;  when 
doubt  assailed  him,  he  lay  upon  the  floor  and  groaned 
lamentably.  At  joyful  periods,  he  raced,  leaped,  an  ' 
sang ;  when  sad,  he  wept  aloud  ;  and  when  a  great 
thought  burst  upon  him  in  the  watches  of  the  night, 
he  crowed  like  a  jocund  cockerel,  to  the  great  delight 
of  the  children  and  the  great  annoyance  of  the  elders, 
One  musical  brother  fiddled  whenever  so  moved,  sang 
sentimentally  to  the  four  little  girls,  and  put  a  music- 
box  on  the  wall  when  he  hoed  corn. 

Brother  Pease  ground  away  at  his  uncooked  food,  or 
browsed  over  the  farm  on  sorrel,  mint,  green  fruit,  and 
new  vegetables.  Occasionally  he  took  his  walks  abroad, 
airily  attired  in  an  unbleached  cotton  poncho,  which 
was  the  nearest  approach  to  the  primeval  costume  he 
was  allowed  to  indulge  in.  At  midsummer  he  retired 
to  the  wilderness,  to  try  his  plan  where  the  woodchucks 
were  without  prejudices  and  huckleberry-bushes  were 
hospitably  full.  A  sunstroke  unfortunately  spoilt  his 
plan,  and  he  returned  to  semi-civilization  a  sadder  and 
wiser  man. 

Forest  Absalom  preserved  his  Pythagorean  silence, 
cultivated  his  fine  dark  locks,  and  worked  like  a  beaver, 
setting  an  excellent  example  of  brotherly  love,  justice, 
and  fidelity  by  his  upright  life,  He  it  was  who  helped 
overworked  Sister  Hope  with  her  heavy  washes, 
kneaded  the  endless  succession  of  batches  of  bread, 
watched  over  the  children,  and  did  the  many  tasks  left 
undone  by  the  brethren,  who  were  so  busy  discussing 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS.  91 

and  defining  great  duties  that  they  forgot  to  perform 
the  small  ones. 

Moses  White  placidly  plodded  about,  "chorin' 
raound,"  as  he  called  it,  looking  like  an  old-time  patri 
arch,  with  his  silver  hair  and  flowing  beard,  and  saving 
the  community  from  many  a  mishap  by  his  thrift  and 
YVinkee  shrewdness. 

Brother  Lion  domineered  over  the  whole  concern ; 
for,  having  put  the  most  money  into  the  speculation,  he 
was  resolved  to  make  it  pay,  —  as  if  any  thing  founded 
on  an  ideal  basis  could  be  expected  to  do  so  by  any  but 
enthusiasts. 

Abel  Lamb  simply  revelled  in  the  Newness,  firmly 
believing  that  his  dr^eam  was  to  be  beautifully  realized^ 
and  in  time  not  only  little  Fruitlands,  but  the  whole 
earth,  be  turned  into  a  Happy  Valley.  He  wrorked 
with  every  muscle  of  his  body,  for  he  was  in  deadly 
earnest.  He  taught  with  his  whole  head  and  heart ; 
planned  and  sacrificed,  preached  and  prophesied,  with  a 
soul  full  of  the  purest  aspirations,  most  unselfish  pur 
poses,  and  desires  for  a  life  devoted  to  God  and  man, 
too  high  and  tender  to  bear  the  rough  usage  of  this 
world. 

It  was  a  little  remarkable  that  only  one  woman  ever 
joined  this  community.  Mrs.  Lamb  merely  followed 
wheresoever  her  husband  led,  —  "as  ballast  for  his 
balloon,"  as  she  said,  in  her  bright  way. 

Miss  Jane  Gage  was  a  stout  lady  of  mature  years, 
sentimental,  amiable,  and  lazy.  She  wrote  verses  co 
piously,  and  had  vague  yearnings  and  graspings  after 
the  unknown,  which  led  her  to  believe  herself  fitted 
for  a  higher  sphere  than  any  she  had  yet  adorned. 


92  TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD   OATS. 

Having  been  a  teacher,  she  was  set  to  instructing  the 
children  in  the  common  branches.  Each  adult  mem 
ber  took  a  turn  at  the  infants;  and,  as  each  taught  in 
his  own  way,  the  result  was  a  chronic  state  of  chaos  in 
the  minds  of  these  much-afflicted  innocents. 

Sleep,  food,  and  poetic  musings  were  the  desires  of 
dear  Jane's  life,  and  she  shirked  all  duties  as  clogs  upon 
her  spirit's  wings.  Any  thought  of  lending  a  hand 
with  the  domestic  drudgery  never  occurred  to  her; 
and  when  to  the  question,  "  Are  there  any  beasts  of 
burden  on  the  place  ?  "  Mrs.  Lamb  answered,  with  a 
face  that  told  its  own  tale,  "  Only  one  woman ! "  the 
buxom  Jane  took  no  shame  to  herself,  but  laughed  at 
the  joke,  and  let  the  stout-hearted  sister  tug  on  alone. 

Unfortunately,  the  poor  lady  hankered  after  the  flesh- 
pots,  and  endeavored  to  stay  herself  with  private  sips 
of  milk,  crackers,  and  cheese,  and  on  one  dire  occasion 
she  partook  of  fish  at  a  neighbor's  table. 

One  of  the  children  reported  this  sad  lapse  from 
virtue,  and  poor  Jane  was  publicly  reprimanded  by 
Timon. 

st  I  only  took  a  little  bit  of  the  tail,"  sobbed  the 
penitent  poetess. 

"  Yes,  but  the  whole  fish  had  to  be  tortured  and  slain 
that  you  might  tempt  your  carnal  appetite  with  that 
one  taste  of  the  tail.  Know  ye  not,  consumers  of  flesh 
meat,  that  ye  are  nourishing  the  wolf  and  tiger  in  youi 
bosoms  ?  " 

At  this  awful  question  and  the  peal  of  laughter  which 
arose  from  some  of  the  younger  brethren,  tickled  by 
the  ludicrous  contrast  between  the  stout  sinner,  the 
stern  judge,  and  the  naughty  satisfaction  of  the  young 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS.  93 

.{elective,  poor  Jane  fled  from  the  room  to  pack  her 
trunk,  and  return  to  a  world  where  fishes'  tails  were 
not  forbidden  fruit. 

Transcendental  wild  oats  were  sown  broadcast  t^ 
year,  and  the  fame  thereof  has  not  yet  ceased  in  the        \ 
land  ;  for,  futile  as  this  crop  seemed  to  outsiders,  it  bore          ) 
an  invisible  harvest,  worth  much  to  those  who  planted        / 
in  earnest.     As  none  of  the  members  of  this  particular      / 
community  have  ever  recounted  their  experiences  be-      1 
fore,  a  few  of  them  may  not  be  amiss,  since  the  interest       \ 
in  these  attempts  has  never  died  out  and  Fruitlands 
was  the  most  ideal  of  all  these  castles  in  Spain. 

A  new  dress  was  invented,  since  cotton,  silk,  and 
wool  were  forbidden  as  the  product  of  slave-labor, 
worm-slaughter,  and  sheep-robbery.  Tunics  and  trow- 
sers  of  brown  linen  were  the  only  wear.  The  women's 
skirts  were  longer,  and  their  straw  hat-brims  wider  than 
the  men's,  and  this  was  the  only  difference.  Some  per 
secution  lent  a  charm  to  the  costume,  and  the  long 
haired,  linen-clad  reformers  quite  enjoyed  the  mild 
martyrdom  they  endured  when  they  left  home. 

Money  was  abjured,  as  the  root  of  all  evil.  The 
produce  of  the  land  was  to  supply  most  of  their  wants, 
or  be  exchanged  for  the  few  things  they  could  not 
grow.  This  idea  had  its  inconveniences  ;  but  self- 
denial  was  the  fashion,  and  it  was  surprising  how  many 
things  one  can  do  without.  When  they  desired  to 
travel,  they  walked,  if  possible,  begged  the  loan  of  a 
vehicle,  or  boldly  entered  car  or  coach,  and,  stating 
their  principles  to  the  officials,  took  the  consequences. 
Usually  their  dress,  their  earnest  frankness,  and  gentle 
resolution  won  them  a  passage  ;  but  now  and  then  they 


94:  TRANSCENDENTAL    WTLD    OATS. 

met  with  hard  usage,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  suffer 
ing  for  their  principles. 

On  one  of  these  penniless  pilgrimages  they  took  pas 
sage  on  a  boat,  and,  when  fare  was  demanded,  artlessly 
offered  to  talk,  instead  of  pay.  As  the  boat  was  well 
under  way  and  they  actually  had  not  a  cent,  there 
was  no  help  for  it.  So  Brothers  Lion  and  Lamb  held 
forth  to  the  assembled  passengers  in  their  most  elo 
quent  style.  There  must  have  been  something  effec 
tive  in  this  conversation,  for  the  listeners  were  moved 
to  take  up  a  contribution  for  these  inspired  lunatics, 
who  preached  peace  on  earth  and  good-will  to  man  so 
earnestly,  with  empty  pockets.  A  goodly  sum  was  col 
lected  ;  but  when  the  captain  presented  it  the  reformers 
proved  that  they  were  consistent  even  in  their  mild 
ness,  for  not  a  penny  would  they  accept,  saying,  with 
a  look  at  the  group  about  them,  whose  indifference  or 
contempt  had  changed  to  interest  arid  respect,  "  You 
see  how  well  we  get  on  without  money;"  and  so  went 
serenely  on  their  way,  with  their  linen  blouses  flapping 
airily  in  the  cold  October  wind. 

They  preached  vegetarianism  everywhere  and  re 
sisted  all  temptations  of  the  flesh,  contentedly  eating 
apples  and  bread  at  well-spread  tables,  and  much  afflict 
ing  hospitable  hostesses  by  denouncing  their  food  and 
taking  away  their  appetites,  discussing  the  "  horrors  of 
shambles,"  the  "incorporation  of  the  brute  in  man," 
and  "  on  elegant  abstinence  the  sign  of  a  pure  soul." 
But,  when  the  perplexed  or  offended  ladies  asked  what 
they  should  eat,  they  got  in  reply  a  bill  of  fare  consist 
ing  of  "bowls  of  sunrise  for  breakfast,"  "solar  seeds 
of  the  sphere,"  "  dishes  from  Plutarch's  chaste  table," 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS.  $5 

and  other  viands  equally  hard  to  find  in  any  modern 
market. 

Reform  conventions  of  all  sorts  were  haunted  by 
these  brethren,  who  said  many  wise  things  and  did 
niiiny  tnolLab — anas.  "C  n?ortunately,  these  wanderings 
interfered  with  their  harvest  at  home  ;  but  the  rule  was 
to  do  what  the  spirit  moved,  so  they  left  their  crops  to 
Providence  and  went  a-reaping  in  wider  and,  let  us 
hope,  more  fruitful  fields  than  their  own. 

Luckily,  the  earthly  providence  who  watched  over 
Abel  Lamb  was  at  hand  to  glean  the  scanty  crop 
yielded  by  the  "  uncorrupted  land,"  which,  "  consecrated 
to  human  freedom,"  had  received  "  the  sober  culture 
of  devout  men." 

About  the  time  the  grain  was  ready  to  house,  some 
call  of  the  Oversoul  wafted  all  the  men  away.  An 
easterly  storm  was  coming  up  and  the  yellow  stacks 
were  sure  to  be  ruined.  Then  Sister  Hope  gathered 
her  forces.  Three  little  girls,  one  boy  (Timon's  son), 
and  herself,  harnessed  to  clothes-baskets  and  Russia- 
linen  sheets,  were  the  only  teams  she  could  command ; 
but  with  these  poor  appliances  the  indomitable  woman 
got  in  the  grain  and  saved  food  for  her  young,  with 
the  instinct  and  energy  of  a  mother-bird  with  a  brood 
of  hungry  nestlings  to  feed. 

This  attempt  at  regeneration  had  its  tragic  as  well  aa 
comic  side,  though  the  world  only  saw  the  former. 

With  the  first  frosts,  the  butterflies,  who  had  sunned 
themselves  in  the  new  light  through  the  summer,  took 
flight,  leaving  the  few  bees  to  see  what  honey  they  had 
stored  for  winter  use.  Precious  little  appeared  beyond 
the  satisfaction  of  a  few  months  of  holy  living. 


9(5  TRANSCENDENTAL   WILD   OATS. 

At  first  it  seemed  as  if  a  chance  to  try  holy  dying  also 
was  to  be  offered  them.  Timon,  much  disgusted  with 
the  failure  of  the  scheme,  decided  to  retire  to  the  Shakers, 
who  seemed  to  be  the  only  successful  community  going, 

"  What  is  to  become  of  us  ?  "  asked  Mrs.  Hope,  for 
Abel  was  heart-broken  at  the  bursting  of  his  lovely 
bubble. 

"  You  can  stay  here,  if  you  like,  till  a  tenant  is  found. 
No  more  wood  must  be  cut,  however,  and  no  more  corn 
ground.  All  I  have  must  be  sold  to  pay  the  debts  of 
the  concern,  as  the  responsibility  rests  with  me,"  was 
the  cheering  reply. 

"  Who  is  to  pay  us  for  what  we  have  lost  ?  I  gave  all 
I  had,  —  furniture,  time,  strength,  six  months  of  my 
children's  lives,  —  and  all  are  wasted.  Abel  gave  him 
self  body  and  soul,  and  is  almost  wrecked  by  hard  work 
and  disappointment.  Are  we  to  have  no  return  for  this, 
but  leave  to  starve  and  freeze  in  an  old  house,  with 
winter  at  hand,  no  money,  and  hardly  a  friend  left, 
for  this  wild  scheme  has  alienated  nearly  all  we  had. 
You  talk  much  about  justice.  Let  us  have  a  little, 
since  there  is  nothing  else  left." 

But  the  woman's  appeal  met  with  no  reply  but  the 
old  one :  "  It  was  an  experiment.  We  all  risked  some 
thing,  and  must  bear  our  losses  as  we  can." 

With  this  cold  comfort,  Timon  departed  with  his  son, 
and  was  absorbed  into  the  Shaker  brotherhood,  where 
he  soon  found  that  the  order  of  things  was  reversed, 
and  it  was  all  work  and  no  play. 

Then  the  tragedy  began  for  the  forsaken  little  family. 
Desolation  and  despair  fell  upon  Abel.  As  his  wife 
said,  his  new  beliefs  had  alienated  many  friends.  Some 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS.  97 

thought  him  mad,  some  unprincipled.  Even  the  most 
kindly  thought  him  a  visionary,  whom  it  was  useless  to 
help  till  he  took  more  practical  views  of  life.  All  stood 
aloof,  saying :  "  Let  him  work  out  his  own  ideas,  and 
see  what  they  are  worth." 

He  had  tried,  but  it  was  a  failure.  The  world  waa 
not  ready  for  Utopia  yet,  and  those  who  attempted  to 
found  it  only  got  laughed  at  for  their  pains.  In  other 
days,  men  could  sell  all  and  give  to  the  poor,  lead  lives 
devoted  to  holiness  and  high  thought,  and,  after  the 
persecution  was  over,  find  themselves  honored  as  saints 
or  martyrs.  But  in  modern  times  these  things  are  out 
of  fashion.  To  live  for  one's  principles,  at  all  costs,  is 
a  dangerous  speculation  ;  and  the  failure  of  an  ideal,  no 
matter  how  humane  and  noble,  is  harder  for  the  world 
to  forgive  and  forget  than  bank  robbery  or  the  grand 
swindles  of  corrupt  politicians. 

Deep  waters  now  for  Abel,  and  for  a  time  there 
seemed  no  passage  through.  Strength  and  spirits  were 
exhausted  by  hard  work  and  too  much  thought.  Cour 
age  failed  when,  looking  about  for  help,  he  saw  no 
sympathizing  face,  no  hand  outstretched  to  help  him, 
no  voice  to  say  cheerily,  — 

"We  all  make  mistakes,  and  it  takes  many  experi 
ences  to  shape  a  life.  Try  again,  and  let  us  help  you." 

Every  door  was  closed,  every  eye  averted,  every 
heart  cold,  and  no  way  open  whereby  he  might  earn 
bread  for  his  children.  His  principles  would  not  permit 
him  to  do  many  things  that  others  did ;  and  in  the  few 
fields  where  conscience  would  allow  him  to  work,  who 
would  employ  a  man  who  had  flown  in  the  face  of 
society,  as  he  had  done  ? 


8  TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS. 

Then  this  dreamer,  whose  dream  was  the  life  of  his 
life,  resolved  to  carry  out  his  idea  to  the  bitter  end. 
There  seemed  no  place  for  him  here,  —  no  work,  no 
friend.  To  go  begging  conditions  was  as  ignoble  as 
to  go  begging  money.  Better  perish  of  want  than  sell 
one's  soul  for  the  sustenance  of  his  body.  Silently  he 
lay  down  upon  his  bed,  turned  his  face  to  the  wall,  and 
waited  with  pathetic  patience  for  death  to  cut  the  knot 
which  he  could  not  untie.  Days  and  nights  went  by, 
and  neither  food  nor  water  passed  his  lips.  Soul  and 
body  were  dumbly  struggling  together,  and  no  word  of 
complaint  betrayed  what  either  suffered. 

His  wife,  when  tears  and  prayers  were  unavailing, 
sat  down  to  wait  the  end  with  a  mysterious  awe  and 
submission ;  for  in  this  entire  resignation  of  all  things 
there  was  an  eloquent  significance  to  her  who  knew  him 
as  no  other  human  being  did. 

"  Leave  all  to  God,"  was  his  belief;  and  in  this  crisis 
the  loving  soul  clung  to  this  faith,  sure  that  the  All- 
wise  Father  would  not  desert  this  child  who  tried  to 
live  so  near  to  Him.  Gathering  her  children  about  her, 
she  waited  the  issue  of  the  tragedy  that  was  being  en- 
a<  ted  in  that  solitary  room,  while  the  first  snow  fell  out 
side,  untrodden  by  the  footprints  of  a  single  friend. 

But  the  strong  angels  who  sustain  and  teach  per 
plexed  and  troubled  souls  came  and  went,  leaving  no 
trace  without,  but  working  miracles  within.  For,  when 
all  other  sentiments  had  faded  into  dimness,  all  other 
hopes  died  utterly;  when  the  bitterness  of  death  was 
nearly  over,  when  body  was  past  any  pang  of  hunger  or 
thirst,  and  soul  stood  ready  to  depart,  the  love  that  out 
lives  all  else  refused  to  die.  Head  had  bowed  to  defeat 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATS.  1*9 

hand  had  grown  weary  with  too  heavy  tasks,  but  heart 
could  not  grow  cold  to  those  who  lived  in  its  tender 
depths,  even  when  death  touched  it. 

"My  faithful  wife,  my  little  girls,  —  they  have  not 
forsaken  me,  they  are  mine  by  ties  that  none  can  break. 
What  right  have  I  to  leave  them  alone?  What  right 
to  escape  from  the  burden  and  the  sorrow  I  have  helped 
to  bring  ?  This  duty  remains  to  me,  and  I  must  do  it 
manfully.  For  their  sakes,  the  world  will  forgive  me 
in  time ;  for  their  sakes,  God  will  sustain  me  now." 

Too  feeble  to  rise,  Abel  groped  for  the  food  that 
always  lay  within  his*  reach,  and  in  the  darkness  and 
solitude  of  that  memorable  night  ate  and  drank  what 
was  to  him  the  bread  and  wine  of  a  new  communion,  a 
new  dedication  of  heart  and  life  to  the  duties  that  were 
left  him  when  the  dreams  fled. 

In  the  early  dawn,  when  that  sad  wife  crept  fearfully 
to  see  what  change  had  come  to  the  patient  face  on  the 
pillow,  she  found  it  smiling  at  her,  saw  a  wasted  hand 
outstretched  to  her,  and  heard  a  feeble  voice  cry 
bravely,  "Hope!" 

What  passed  in  that  little  room  is  not  to  be  recorded 
except  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  suffered  and  endured 
much  for  love's  sake.  Enough  for  us  to  know  that  soon 
the  wan  shadow  of  a  man  came  forth,  leaning  on  the  arm 
that  never  failed  him,  to  be  welcomed  and  cherished  by 
the  children,  who  never  forgot  the  experiences  of  that 
time. 

"  Hope  "  was  the  watchword  now ;  and,  while  the  last 
logs  blazed  on  the  hearth,  the  last  bread  and  apples  cov 
ered  the  table,  the  new  commander,  with  recovered 
courage,  said  to  her  husband, — 


100  TRANSCENDENTAL    WILD    OATiS. 

"  Leave  all  to  God  —  and  me.  He  has  done  his  part ; 
now  I  will  do  mine." 

"  But  we  have  no  money,  dear." 

"  Yes,  we  have.  I  sold  all  we  could  spare,  and  have 
enough  to  take  us»away  from  this  snowbank." 

"  Where  can  we  go  ?  " 

"  I  have  engaged  four  rooms  at  our  good  neighbor, 
Lovejoy's.  There  we  can  live  cheaply  till  spring.  Then 
for  new  plans  and  a  home  of  our  own,  please  God." 

"  But,  Hope,  your  little  store  won't  last  long,  and  we 
have  no  friends. " 

"  I  can  sew  and  you  can  chop  wood.  Lovejoy  offers 
you  the  same  pay  as  he  gives  his  other  men ;  my  old 
friend,  Mrs.  Truman,  will  send  me  all  the  work  I  want; 
and  rny  blessed  brother  stands  by  us  to  the  end.  Cheer 
up,  dear  heart,  for  while  there  is  work  and  love  in  the 
world  we  shall  not  suffer." 

"And  while  I  have  my  good  angel  Hope,  I  shall  not 
despair,  even  if  I  wait  another  thirty  years  before  I  step 
beyond  the  circle  of  the  sacred  little  world  in  which  I 
still  have  a  place  to  fill." 

So  one  bleak  December  day,  with  their  few  possessions 
piled  on  an  ox-sled,  the  rosy  children  perched  atop,  and: 
the  parents  trudging  arm  in  arm  behind,  the  exiles  left 
their  Eden  and  faced  the  world  again. 

"  Ah,  me !  my  happy  dream.  How  much  I  leave 
behind  that  never  can  be  mine  again,"  said  Abel,  looking 
back  at  the  lost  Paradise,  lying  white  and  chill  in  its 
shroud  of  snow. 

"  Yes,  dear ;  but  how  much  we  bring  away,"  answered 
brave-hearted  Hope,  glancing  from  husband  to  children. 

w  Poor  Fruitlands  !    The  name  was  as  great  a  failure 


TRANSCENDENTAL    WJLl)    OATS?,,         101 

as  the  rest!"  continued  Abel,  with  a  sigh,  as  a  frost 
bitten  apple  fell  from  a  leafless,  bough,. $t  ibis  feoi,., ,;  „  ,  r, 

But  the  sigh  changed  to  "a  smile  as  his  .vile  added/in 
a  half-tender,  half-satirical  tone,  — 

"  Don't  you  think  Apple  Slump  would  be  a  better 
name  for  it,  dear  ?  " 


fHE  ROMANCE'  OF  A  SUMMER  DAY. 


"  \  T  7  IT  AT  shall  we  do  about  Rose  ?     We  have  tried 

»  »  Saratoga,  and  that  failed  to  cheer  her  up  ;  we 
tried  the  sea-shore,  and  that  failed ;  now  we  have  tried 
the  mountains,  and  they  are  going  to  fail,  like  the  rest. 
See  if  your  woman's  wit  can't  devise  something  to  help 
the  child,  Milly." 

"  Time  and  tenderness  will  work  the  cure ;  and  she 
will  be  all  the  better  for  this  experience,  I  hope." 

"  So  do  I.  But  I  don't  pretend  to  understand  these 
nervous  ailments;  so,  if  air,  exercise,  and  change  of 
scene  don't  cure  the  vapors,  I  give  it  up.  Girls  didn't 
have  such  worries  in  my  day." 

And  the  old  gentleman  shook  his  head,  as  if  modern 
ills  perplexed  him  very  much. 

But  Milly  smiled  the  slow,  wise  smile  of  one  who 
had  learned  much  from  experience;  among  other 
things,  the  wisdom  of  leaving  certain  troubles  to  cure 
themselves. 

"  Has  the  child  expressed  a  wish  for  any  thing  ?  If 
so,  out  with  it,  and  she  shall  be  gratified,  if  it  can  be 
done,"  began  Uncle  Ben,  after  a  moment  of  silence,  as 
they  sat  watching  the  moonlight,  that  glorified  the 
summer  night. 

"  The  last  wish  is  one  that  we  can  easily  gratify,  if 
you  don't  mind  the  fatigue.  The  restless  spirit  that 


THE   ROMANCE   OF  A    SUMMER    DAT.       10 

possesses  her  keeps  suggesting  new  things.  Much  exer 
cise  does  her  good,  and  is  an  excellent  way  to  work  off 
this  unrest.  She  likes  to  tire  herself  out ;  for  then  she 
sleeps,  poor  dear." 

"Well,  well,  what  does  the  poor  dear  want  to  do?" 
asked  Uncle  Ben,  quickly. 

"  She  said  to-day  that,  instead  of  going  off  on  excur 
sions,  as  we  have  been  doing,  she  would  like  to  stroll 
away  some  pleasant  morning,  and  follow  the  road 
wherever  it  led,  finding  and  enjoying  any  little  advent 
ures  that  might  come  along,  —  as  Richter's  heroes  do." 

'•  Yes,  I  see :  white  butterflies,  morning  red,  disguised 
counts,  philosophic  plowmen,  and  all  the  rest  of  the 
romantic  rubbish.  Bless  the  child,  does  she  expect  to 
find  things  of  that  sort  anywhere  out  of  a  German 
novel?" 

"Plenty  of  butterflies  and  morning-glories,  uncle, 
and  a  girl's  imagination  will  supply  the  romance.  Per 
haps  we  can  get  up  some  little  surprise  to  add  flavor  to 
our  day's  adventures,"  said  Milly,  who  rather  favored 
ihe  plan,  for  much  romance  still  lay  hidden  in  that  quiet 
heart  of  hers. 

"  Where  shall  we  go?  What  shall  we  do?  I  don't 
know  how  this  sort  of  thing  is  managed." 

*'•  Do  nothing  but  follow  us.  Let  her  choose  her  road ; 
and  we  will  merely  see  that  she  has  food  and  rest,  pro 
tection,  and  as  much  pleasure  as  we  can  make  for  her 
out  of  such  simple  materials.  Having  her  own  way 
will  gratify  her,  and  a  day  in  the  open  air  do  her  good. 
Shall  we  try  it,  sir?" 

"  With  all  my  heart,  if  the  fancy  lasts  till  morning, 
I'll  have  some  lunch  put  up,  and  order  Jim  to  dawdle 


101   THE  ROMANCE  OF  A  SUMMKK  DAY 

after  us  with  the  wagon  full  of  waterproof,  and  so  un^ 
in  case  we  break  down.  I  rather  like  the  idea,  now  I 
fairly  take  it  in."  And  Uncle  Ben  quite  beamed  with 
interest  and  good-will ;  for  a  kinder-hearted  man  never 
breathed,  and,  in  spite  of  his  fifty  years,  he  was  as  fond 
of  adventures  as  any  boy. 

"  Then,  as  we  must  be  up  and  away  very  early,  I'll 
say  good-night,  sir,"  and  Milly  rose  to  go,  looking  well 
satisfied  with  the  success  of  her  suggestion. 

"  Good-night,  my  dear,"  and  Uncle  Ben  rose  also, 
flung  away  his  cigar,  and  offered  his  hand  with  the  old- 
fashioned  courtesy  which  he  always  showed  his  niece'<; 
friend  ;  for  Milly  only  called  him  uncle  to  please  him. 

"  You  are  sure  this  wild  whim  won't  be  too  much  foi 
you?  You  are  such  a  self-sacrificing  soul,  I'm  afraid 
my  girl  will  wear  you  out,"  he  said,  looking  down  at 
her  with  a  fatherly  expression,  very  becoming  to  his 
comely  countenance. 

"Not  a  bit,  sir.  I  like  it,  and  would  gladly  do  any 
thing  to  please  and  help  Rose.  I'm  very  fond  of  her, 
and  love  to  pet  and  care  for  her.  I'm  so  alone  in  the 
world  I  cling  to  my  few  friends,  and  feel  as  if  I  couldn't 
do  enough  for  them." 

Something  in  Milly's  face  made  Uncle  Ben  hold  her 
hand  close  in  both  of  his  a  moment,  and  look  as  if  he 
was  going  to  stoop  and  kiss  her.  But  he  seemed  to 
think  better  of  it;  for  he  only  shook  the  soft  hand 
warmly,  and  said,  in  his  hearty  tone, — 

*'  I  don't  know  what  we  should  do  without  you,  my 
dear.  You  are  one  of  the  women  born  to  help  and 
comfort  others,  and  ask  no  reward  but  love." 

As  the  first  streaks  of  dawn  touched  the  eastern  sky 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAY.       105 

three  faces  appeared  at  three  different  windows  of  the 
great  hotel.  One  was  a  masculine  face,  a  ruddy,  benevo 
lent  countenance,  with  kind  eyes,  grayish  hair  cheer 
fully  erect  upon  the  head,  and  a  smile  on  the  lips,  that 
softly  whistled  the  old  air  of 

"  A  southerly  wind  and  a  cloudy  sky 
Proclaim  a  hunting  morning." 

The  second  was  one  of  those  serene,  sweet  faces, 
possessing  an  attraction  more  subtle  than  beauty ;  eyes 
always  full  of  silent  sympathy,  a  little  wistful  some 
times,  but  never  sad,  and  an  expression  of  peace  and 
patience  that  told  of  battles  fought  and  victories  won. 
A  happy,  helpful  soul  shone  from  that  face  and  made  it 
lovely,  though  its  first  bloom  was  past  and  a  solitary 
future  lay  before  it. 

The  third  was  rich  in  the  charms  that  youth  and 
health  lend  any  countenance.  But,  in  spite  of  the 
bloom  on  the  rounded  cheeks,  the  freshness  of  the  lips, 
and  the  soft  beauty  of  the  eyes,  the  face  that  looked  out 
from  the  bonny  brown  hair,  blowing  in  the  wind,  was 
not  a  happy  one.  Discontent,  unrest,  and  a  secret  hun 
ger  seemed  to  sadden  and  sharpen  all  its  outlines,  mak 
ing  it  pathetic  to  those  who  could  read  the  language  of 
an  unsatisfied  heart. 

Poor  little  Rose  was  waiting,  as  all  women  must 
wait,  for  the  good  gift  that  brightens  life ;  and,  while 
she  waited,  patience  and  passion  were  having  a  hard 
fight  in  the  proud  silence  of  her  heart. 

"  It  will  be  a  capital  day,  girls,"  called  Uncle  Ben, 
in  his  cheery  voice. 

"  I  thought  it  would  be,"  answered  Milly,  nodding 
back,  with  a  smile. 


106       THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAY. 

"  I  know  it  will  pour  before  night,"  added  Rose,  who 
Raw  every  thing  just  then  through  blue  spectacles. 
„  "  Breakfast  is  ready  for  us.     Come  on,  girls,  or  you'll 
miss  your  morning  red,"  called  Uncle  Ben,  retiring, 
with  a  laugh. 

"  I  lost  mine  six  months  ago,"  sighed  Rose,  as  she 
listlessly  gathered  up  the  brown  curls,  that  were  once 
her  pride. 

"  Hark !  hark !  the  lark  at  Heaven's  gate  sings," 
sounded  from  Milly's  room,  in  her  blithe  voice. 

"  Tiresome  little  bird !  Why  don't  he  stay  in  his 
nest  and  cheer  his  mate  ?  "  muttered  Rose,  refusing  to 
be  cheered. 

Ck  Now  lead  on,  my  dear,  we'll  follow  till  we  drop," 
said  Uncle  Ben,  stoutly,  as  they  stood  on  the  piazza, 
half  an  hour  later,  with  no  one  but  a  sleepy  waiter  to 
watch  and  wonder  at  the  early  start. 

"  I  have  always  wondered  where  that  lonely  road 
went  to,  and  now  I  shall  find  out,"  answered  Rose,  with 
an  imperious  little  gesture,  as  she  led  the  way.  The 
others  followed  so  slowly  that  she  felt  alone,  and 
enjoyed  it,  in  spite  of  herself. 

It  was  the  most  eloquent  hour  of  the  day,  for  all  was 
beautiful,  all  was  fresh ;  nothing  was  out  of  order, 
nothing  disturbed  eye  or  ear,  and  the  world  seemed  to 
welcome  her  with  its  morning  face.  The  road  wound 
between  forests  full  of  the  green  gloom  no  artist  can 
ever  paint.  Pines  whispered,  birches  quivered,  maples 
dropped  grateful  shadows,  and  a  little  river  foamed  and 
sparkled  by,  carrying  its  melodious  message  from  the 
mountains  to  the  sea.  Glimpses  of  hoary  peaks  broke 
on  her  now  and  then,  dappled  with  shadows  or  half. 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAT.      10? 

Veiled  in  mists,  floating  and  fading  like  incense  from 
altars  fit  for  a  cathedral  not  built  with  hands.  Leafy 
vistas  opened  temptingly  on  either  side,  berries  blushed 
ripely  in  the  grass,  cow-bells  tinkled  pleasantly  along 
the  hillsides,  and  that  busy  little  farmer,  the  "  Peabody 
bird,"  cried  from  tree  to  tree,  "  Sow  your  wheat,  Pea- 
body  !  Peabody !  Peabody ! "  with  such  musical  energy 
one  ceased  to  wonder  that  fields  were  wrested  from 
the  forest,  to  wave  like  green  and  golden  breast-knots 
on  the  bosoms  of  the  hills. 

The  fresh  beauty  and  the  healthful  peace  of  the  hour 
refreshed  the  girl  like  dew.  The  human  rose  lifted  up 
her  drooping  head  and  smiled  back  at  the  blithe  sun 
shine,  as  if  she  found  the  world  a  pleasant  place,  in 
spite  of  her  own  thorns.  Presently  a  yellow  butterfly 
came  wandering  by ;  and  she  watched  it  as  she  walked, 
pleasing  herself  with  the  girlish  fancy  that  it  was  a 
symbol  of  herself. 

At  first  it  fluttered  idly  from  side  to  side,  now  light 
ing  on  a  purple  thistle-top,  then  away  to  swing  on  a 
dewy  fern;  now  vanishing  among  the  low-hanging 
boughs  overhead,  then  settling  in  the  dust  of  the  road, 
where  a  ray  of  light  glorified  its  golden  wings,  unmind 
ful  of  its  lowly  seat. 

"  Little  Psyche  is  looking  for  her  Cupid  everywhere, 
as  I  have  looked  for  mine.  I  wonder  if  she  ever  found 
and  lost  him,  as  I  did  ?  If  she  does  find  him  again,  I'll 
accept  it  as  a  good  omen." 

Full  of  this  fancy,  Rose  walked  quickly  after  her  airy 
guide,  leaving  her  comrades  far  behind.  Some  tender 
hearted  spirit  surely  led  that  butterfly,  for  it  never 
wandered  far  away,  but  floated  steadily  before  the  girl, 


108       THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER   DAY 

till  it  came  at  last  to  a  wild  rose-bush,  full  of  delicate 
blossoms.  Above  it  a  cloud  of  yellow  butterflies  were 
(lancing  in  the  sun;  and  from  among  them  one  flew 
to  meet  and  welcome  the  new-comer.  Together  they 
fluttered  round  the  rosy  flowers  for  a  moment,  then 
rose  in  graceful  circles,  till  they  vanished  in  the  wood. 

Rose  followed  them  with  eyes  that  slowly  dimmed 
with  happy  tears,  for  the  innocent  soul  accepted  the 
omen  and  believed  it  gratefully. 

"  He  will  come,"  she  said  softly  to  herself,  as  she 
fastened  a  knot  of  wild  roses  in  her  bosom  and  sat 
down  to  rest  and  wait. 

" Tired  out,  little  girl?"  asked  Uncle  Ben,  coming 
up  at  a  great  pace,  rather  amazed  at  this  sudden  burst 
of  energy,  but  glad  to  see  it. 

"No,  indeed!  It  was  lovely!  "  and  Rose  looked  up 
with  a  brighter  face  than  she  had  worn  for  weeks. 

"  Upon  my  word,  I  think  we  have  hit  upon  the  right 
thing  at  last,"  said  Uncle  Ben,  aside,  to  Milly.  "  What 
have  you  been  doing  to  get  such  a  look  as  that?"  he 
added  aloud. 

"  Chasing  butterflies,"  was  all  the  answer  Rose  gave ; 
for  she  could  not  tell  the  foolish  little  fancy  that  had 
comforted  her  so  much. 

"Then,  my  dear,  I  beg  you  will  devote  yourself  to 
that  amusement.  I  never  heard  it  recommended,  but 
it  seems  to  be  immensely  beneficial ;  so  keep  it  up, 
Rosy,  keep  it  up." 

"  I  will,  sir,"  and  on  went  Rose,  as  if  in  search  ot 
another  one. 

For  an  hour  or  two  she  strolled  along  the  woody 
road,  gathering  red  raspberries,  with  the  dew  still  on 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAY.       109 

them,  garlanding  her  hat  with  fragrant  Linnsea  wreaths, 
watching  the  brown  brooks  go  singing  away  into  the 
forest,  and  wishing  the  little  wood  creatures  good-mor 
row,  as  they  went  fearlessly  to  and  fro,  busy  with  their 
sylvan  housekeeping.  At  every  turn  of  the  road  Rose's 
wistful  eyes  looked  forward,  as  if  hoping  to  see  some 
much-desired  figure  approaching.  At  every  sound  of 
steps  she  lifted  her  head  like  a  deer,  listening  and 
watching  till  the  stranger  had  gone  by ;  and  down 
every  green  vista  she  sent  longing  looks,  as  if  memory 
recalled  happy  hours  in  green  nooks  like  those. 

Presently  the  road  wound  over  a  bridge,  below  which 
flowed  a  wide,  smooth  river,  necked  with  alternate  sun 
and  shadow. 

"  How  beautiful  it  is !  I  must  float  down  this  stream 
a  little  way.  It  is  getting  warm  and  I  am  tired,  yet 
don't  want  to  stop  or  turn  back  yet,"  said  Rose ;  add 
ing,  as  her  quick  eye  roved  to  and  fro  :  "  I  see  a  boat 
down  there,  and  a  lazy  man  reading.  I'll  hire  or  bor 
row  it ;  so  come  on." 

Away  she  went  into  the  meadow,  and,  accosting  the 
countryman,  who  lay  in  the  shade,  she  made  her  request. 

"  I  get  my  livin'  in  summer  by  rowin'  folks  down  to 
the  Falls.  It  ain't  fur.  Will  you  go,  Miss?"  he  said, 
smiling  all  over  his  brown  face,  as  he  regarded  the 
pretty  vision  that  so  suddenly  appeared  beside  him. 

Rose  accepted  the  proposition  at  once ;  but  halt 
regretted  it  a  minute  after,  for,  as  the  man  rose,  she 
saw  that  he  had  a  wooden  leg. 

"  I'm  afraid  we  shall  be  too  heavy  a  load  for  you,"  she 
began,  as  he  stumped  about,  preparing  his  boat. 

The  young  fellow  laughed  arid    squared   his   broad 


110       THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAY. 

shoulders,  with  a  quick  look,  that  thanked  her  for  the 
pitiful  glance  she  gave  him,  as  he  answered,  in  a  bluff, 
good-natured  tone,  — 

"  Don't  be  afraid.  I  could  row  a  dozen  of  you.  1 
look  rather  the  worse  for  wear;  but  my  old  mother 
thinks  I'm  about  the  strongest  man  in  the  State.  Now, 
then,  give  us  your  hand,  Miss,  and  there  you  are." 

With  that  he  helped  her  in.  The  others  obediently 
followed  their  capricious  leader,  and  in  a  moment  they 
were  floating  down  the  river,  with  a  fresh  wind  cooling 
their  hot  faces. 

"  You  have  been  in  the  army,  I  take  it  ?  "  began 
Uncle  Ben,  in  his  social  way,  as  he  watched  the  man 
pulling  with  long,  easy  strokes. 

"  Pretty  nigh  through  the  war,  sir,"  with  a  nod  and  a 
gin  nee  at  the  wooden  leg. 

Uncle  Ben  lifted  his  hat,  and  Rose  turned  with  a 
sudden  interest  from  the  far-off  bend  of  the  river  to  the 
honest  face  before  her. 

"  Oh  !  tell  us  about  it.  I  love  to  hear  brave  men  fight 
their  battles  over,"  she  cried,  with  a  look  half  pleading, 
half  commanding,  and  wholly  charming. 

"  Sho  !  It  ain't  much  to  tell.  No  more  than  the  rest 
of  Vm  ;  not  so  much  as  some.  I  done  my  best,  lost  my 
(eg,  got  a  few  bullets  here  and  there,  and  ain't  much  use 
any  way  now." 

A  shadow  passed  over  the  man's  face  as  he  spoke; 
and  well  it  might,  for  it  was  hard  to  be  disabled  at 
twenty-five  with  a  long  life  of  partial  helplessness  before 
him.  Uncle  Ben,  who  was  steering,  forgot  hrs  duty  in 
his  sympathy,  and  regarded  the  wooden  leg  with  silent 
interest. 


THE  ROMANCE    OF  A   SUMMER  DAY.       Ill 

Milly  showed  hers  by  keeping  the  mosquitoes  off  him 
by  gently  waving  a  green  bough,  as  she  sat  behind  him. 
But  Rose's  soft  eyes  shone  upon  him  full  of  persuasive 
interest,  and  a  new  tone  of  respect  was  in  her  voice  as 
she  said,  with  a  martial  salute,  — 

"  Please  tell  about  your  last  battle.  I  had  a  cousin 
in  the  war,  and  feel  as  if  every  soldier  was  my  friend  and 
comrade  since  then." 

"  Thanky,  Miss.  I'll  tell  you  that  with  pleasure, 
though  it  ain't  much,  any  way."  And,  pushing  back 
his  hat,  the  young  man  rested  on  his  oars,  as  he  rapidly 
told  his  little  tale. 

"My  last  battle  was ,"  naming  one  of  the  latest 

and  bloodiest  of  the  war.  "  We  were  doing  our  best, 
when  there  came  a  shell  and  scattered  half-a-dozen  of  us 
pretty  lively.  I  was  knocked  flat.  But  I  didn't  feel 
hurt,  only  mad,  and  jumped  up  to  hit  'em  agin;  but  just 
dropped,  with  an  awful  wrench,  and  the  feeling  that 
both  my  legs  was  gone." 

"  Did  no  one  stop  to  help  you  ?  "cried  Rose. 
"  Too  busy  for  that,  Miss.  The  boys  can't  stop  to 
pick  up  their  mates  when  there  are  Rebs  ahead  to  bo 
knocked  down.  I  knew  there  was  no  more  fighting  for 
me  ;  and  just  laid  still,  with  the  balls  singing  round  me, 
and  wondering  where  they'd  hit  next." 

"How  did  you  feel  ?"  questioned  the  girl,  eagerly. 
"Dreadful  busy  at  first;  for  every  thing  I'd  ever  said, 
seen,  or  done,  seemed  to  go  spinning  through  my  head, 
till  I  got  so  dizzy  trying  to  keep  my  wits  stiddy  that 
I  lost  'em  altogether.  I  didn't  find  'em  again  till  some 
one  laid  hold  of  me.  Two  of  our  boys  were  luggin'  me 
along  back ;  but  they  had  to  dodge  behind  walls  and 


112       THE   ROMANCE   OF  A    SUMMER   DAY. 

;/ut  up  and  down,  for  the  scrimmage  was  going  on  all 
round  us.  One  of  the  fellers  was  hit  in  the  shoulder  and 
the  other  in  the  face,  but  not  bad  ;  and  they  managed  to 
get  me  into  a  sort  of  a  ravine,  out  of  danger.  There  I 
begged  'em  to  leave  me.  I  thought  I  was  bleeding  to 
death  rapid,  and  just  wanted  to  die  in  peace." 

"  But  they  didn't  leave  you  ?  "  And  Rose's  face  was 
all  alive  with  interest  now. 

"  Guess  they  didn't,"  answered  the  man,  giving  a 
stroke  or  two,  and  looking  as  if  he  found  it  pleasant  to 
tell  his  story  to  so  winsome  a  listener.  "  Just  as  they 
were  at  their  wit's  end  what  to  do  with  me,  we  come 
upon  a  young  surgeon,  lurking  there  to  watch  the  fight 
or  to  hide,  —  don't  know  which.  There  he  was  any  way, 
looking  scared  half  to  death.  Tom  Hunt,  my  mate,  made 
him  stop  and  look  at  me.  My  leg  was  smashed,  and 
ought  to  come  off  right  away,  he  said.  '  Do  it,  then ! ' 
says  Tom.  He  was  one  of  your  rough-and-readys, 
Tom  was;  but  at  heart  as  kind  as  a  —  well,  as  a 
woman." 

And  the  boatman  gave  a  smile  and  a  nod  at  the  one 
opposite  him. 

"Thanks;  but  do  tell  on.     It  is  so  interesting." 

And  Rose  let  all  her  flowers  stray  down  into  the 
bottom  of  the  boat,  as  she  clasped  her  hands  and  leaned 
forward  to  listen. 

"  Don't  know  as  I'd  better  tell  this  part.  It  ain't 
pleasant,"  began  the  man. 

"  You  must.  I  want  it  all.  Dreadful  things  do  me 
good,  and  other  people's  sufferings  teach  me  how  to  bear 
my  own,"  said  Rose,  in  her  imperious  way. 

"  You  don't  look  as  if  you  ought  to  have  any/' 


THE   ROMANCE   OF  A    SUMMER  DAY.       113 

And  the  man's  eyes  rested  on  the  delicate  face  oppo 
site,  full  of  a  pleasant  blending  of  admiration,  pity,  and 
protection. 

"• 1  have  ;  but  not  like  yours.     Go  on,  please." 

"  Well,  if  you  say  so,  here  goes.  The  surgeon  was 
worried,  and  said  he  couldn't  do  nothing,  —  hadn't  got 
iris  instruments,  and  so  on.  '  Yes,  you  have.  Out  with 
em,'  says  Tom,  rapping  on  a  case  he  sees  in  the  chap's 
breast-pocket.  4  Can't  do  it  without  bandages,'  he  says 
next.  4  Here  they  are,  and  more  where  they  came 
from,' says  Tom ;  and  off  came  his  shirt- sleeves,  and  was 
stripped  up  in  a  jiffy.  '  I  must  have  help,'  says  that  con 
founded  surgeon,  dawdling  round,  and  me  groaning  my 
life  out  at  his  feet.  'Here's  help, — lots  of  it,'  saya 
Tom,  taking  my  head  on  his  arm ;  while  Parkes  tied 
up  his  wounded  face  and  stood  ready  to  lend  a  hand. 
Seeing  no  way  out  of  it,  the  surgeon  went  to  work. 
Good  Lord,  but  that  was  awful ! " 

The  mere  memory  of  it  made  the  speaker  shut  his 
eyes  with  a  shiver,  as  if  he  felt  again  the  sharp  agony 
of  shattered  bones,  rent  flesh,  and  pitiless  knife. 

"Never  mind  that.  Tell  how  you  got  comfortable 
again,"  said  Milly,  shaking  her  head  at  Rose. 

"  I  wasn't  comfortable  for  three  months,  ma'am. 
Don't  mind  telling  about  it,  'cause  Tom  done  so  well, 
and  I'm  proud  of  him,"  said  the  rower,  with  kindling  eyes. 
"  Things  of  that  sort  are  hard  enough  done  well,  with 
chloroform  and  every  thing  handy.  But  laying  on  the 
bare  ground,  with  nothing  right,  and  a  scared  boy  of  a 
surgeon  hacking  away  at  you,  it's  torment  and  no  mis 
take.  I  never  could  have  stood  it,  if  it  hadn't  been  for 
Tom.  He  held  me  close  and  as  steady  as  a  rock ;  but  he 

8 


114       TEE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAY. 

cried  like  a  baby  the  whole  time,  and  that  did  me  good. 
Don't  know  why  ;  but  it  did.  As  for  Parkes,  he  gave 
out  at  once  and  went  off  for  help.  I'll  never  forget 
that  place,  if  I  live  to  be  a  hundred.  Seems  as  if  1 
could  see  the  very  grass  I  tore  up ;  the  muddy  brook 
they  laid  me  by ;  the  steep  bank,  with  Parkes  creeping 
up ;  Tom's  face,  wet  and  white,  but  so  full  of  pity ;  the 
surgeon,  with  his  red  hands ;  and  all  the  while  such  a 
roar  of  guns  I  could  hardly  hear  myself  groaning  for 
some  one  to  shoot  me  and  put  me  out  of  my  misery." 

"How  did  you  get  to  the  hospital?"  asked  Uncle 
Ben,  anxious  to  get  over  this  part  of  the  story,  for  Rose 
was  now  as  pale  as  if  she  actually  saw  the  scene  de 
scribed. 

"  Don't  know,  sir.  There  come  a  time  when  I  couldn't 
bear  any  more,  and  what  happened  then  I've  never  been 
very  clear  about.  I  didn't  know  much  for  a  day  or  two ; 
then  I  was  brought  round  by  being  put  in  a  transport. 
I  was  packed  with  a  lot  of  poor  fellows,  and  was  begin 
ning  to  wish  I'd  stayed  queer,  till  I  heard  Tom's  voice 
saying,  '  Never  mind,  boys ;  put  me  down  anywheres, 
and  tend  to  the  others.  I  can  wait.'  That  set  me  up. 
I  sung  out,  and  they  stowed  him  alongside.  It  was  so 
dark  down  there  I  could  hardly  see  his  face ;  but  his 
voice  and  ways  were  just  as  hearty  and  comforting  as 
ever,  and  he  kept  up  my  spirits  wonderful  that  day.  1 
was  pretty  weak,  and  kept  dozing  off;  but  whenever  I 
woke  I  felt  for  Tom,  and  he  was  always  there.  He 
told  me,  when  Parkes  came  with  help,  he  saw  me  off, 
and  then  went  back  for  another  go  at  the  Rebs ;  but  got 
a  ball  in  the  breast,  and  was  in  rather  a  bad  way,  he 
guessed.  He  couldn't  lay  down;  but  sat  by  me,  lean- 


THE   ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER   DAY.      115 

ing  back,  with  his  hand  on  my  pillow,  where  I  could 
find  it  easy.  He  talked  to  me  all  he  could,  till  his 
voice  give  out ;  for  he  got  very  weak,  and  there  was  a 
dreadful  groaning  all  around  us." 

"  I  know,  I  know.  I  went  aboard  one  of  those  tran 
sports  to  help ;  but  couldn't  stay,  it  was  so  terrible," 
said  Uncle  Ben,  with  a  groan  at  the  mere  memory 
of  it. 

"  That  was  a  long  day,  and  I  thought  it  was  my  last ; 
for  when  night  came  I  felt  so  gone  I  reckoned  I  was 
'most  over  Jordan.  I  gave  my  watch  to  Tom  as  a 
keepsake,  and  told  him  to  say  good-by  to  the  boys 
for  me.  I  hadn't  any  folks  of  my  own,  so  it  wasn't  hard 
to  go.  Tom  had  a  sweetheart,  an  old  mother,  and  lots 
of  friends;  but  he  didn't  repine  a  word,  —  only  said: 
*  If  you  do  pull  through,  Joel,  just  tell  mother  I  done 
my  best,  and  give  Hetty  my  love.'  I  promised,  and 
dropped  asleep,  holding  on  to  Tom  as  if  he  was  my 
sheet-ancnor.  So  he  was ;  but  I  can't  tell  all  he  dono 
for  me  in  different  ways." 

For  a  minute  Joel  rowed  in  silence,  and  no  one  asked 
a  question.  Then  he  pushed  up  his  old  hat  again,  and 
^ent  on,  as  if  anxious  to  be  done. 

u  Soon's  ever  I  woke,  next  morning,  I  looked  round 
to  thank  Tom,  for  his  blanket  was  over  me.  He  was 
sitting  as  I  left  him,  his  hand  on  my  pillow,  his  face 
toward  me,  so  quiet  and  happy-looking  I  couldn't 
believe  he  was  gone.  But  he  was,  and  I  have  had  no 
mate  since." 

"  Where  did  he  live  ? "  asked  Rose,  as  softly  as  if 
speaking  of  one  she  had  known  and  loved. 

"  Over  yonder."  And  Joel  pointed  to  a  little  brown 
r  house  on  the  hillside. 


116      THE  ROMANCE   OF  A    SUMMER  LAY. 

"  Are  his  mother  and  Hetty  there  ?  " 
"Hetty  married  a  number  of  years  ago;  but  the  old 
lady  is  there." 

"  And  you  are  visiting  her?" 

"  I  live  with  her.  You  see  Tom  was  all  she  had  ; 
and,  when  Hetty  left,  it  was  only  natural  that  I  tried 
to  take  Tom's  place.  Can't  never  fill  it  of  course  ;  but 
I  do  what  I  can,  and  she's  comfortable." 

"So  she  is  the  'old  mother'  who  thinks  so  much 
of  you?  Well  she  may,"  said  Rose,  giving  him  her 
brightest  smile. 

"  Yes,  she's  all  I've  got  now.  Couldn't  do  no  less, 
could  I,  seein'  how  much  Tom  done  for  me?"  answered 
the  man,  with  a  momentary  quiver  of  emotion  in  his 
rough  voice. 

"  You're  a  trump ! "  said  Uncle  Ben,  emphatically. 

"  Thanky,  sir.  Starboard,  if  you  please.  I  don't 
care  to  get  into  the  rapids  just  here." 

Joel  seemed  to  dislike  telling  this  part  of  the  story  ; 
but  the  three  listeners  beamed  upon  him  with  such  ap 
proving  faces  that  he  took  to  his  oars  in  self-defence, 
rowing  with  all  his  might,  till  the  roar  of  the  Fall  was 
faintly  heard. 

"Now,  where  shall  I  land  you,  sir?" 

"  Let  us  lunch  on  the  island,"  proposed  Rose. 

"  I  see  a  tent,  and  fancy  some  one  is  camping  there," 
said  Milly. 

"A  lot  of  young  fellows  have  been  there  this  three 
days,"  said  Joel. 

"  Then  we  will  go  on,  and  take  to  the  grove  above 
the  Fall,"  ordered  Uncle  Ben. 

Alas!    alas!    for  Rose.     That  decision   delayed  her 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  A    SUMMER  DAY.      117 

happiness  a  whole  half  day;  for  on  that  island,  luxuri 
ously  reading  "  The  Lotus  Eaters,"  as  he  lay  in  the 
long  grass,  was  the  Gabriel  this  modern  Evangeline 
was  waiting  for.  She  never  dreamed  he  was  so  near. 
And  the  brown-bearded  student  never  lifted  up  his 
head  as  the  boat  floated  by,  carrying  the  lady  of  his 
love. 

"  I  want  to  give  him  more  than  his  fare.  So  I  shall 
slip  my  cigar-case  into  the  pocket  of  this  coat,"  whis 
pered  Uncle  Ben,  as  Joel  was  busy  drawing  up  the 
boat  and  getting  a  stone  or  two  to  facilitate  the  ladies' 
landing  dryshod. 

"  I  shall  leave  my  book  for  him.  He  was  poring  over 
an  old  newspaper,  as  if  hungry  for  reading.  The  dash 
and  daring  of  '  John  Brent '  will  charm  him ;  and  the 
sketch  of  Winthrop's  life  in  the  beginning  will  add  to 
its  value,  I  know."  And,  hastily  scribbling  his  name 
in  it,  Rose  slipped  the  book  under  the  coat. 

But  Milly,  seeing  how  old  that  coat  was,  guessed 
that  Joel  gave  his  earnings  to  the  old  woman  to  whom 
he  dutifully  played  a  son's  part.  Writing  on  a  card 
"For  Tom's  mother  and  mate,"  she  folded  a  five-dollar 
bill  round  it,  fastened  it  with  a  little  pearl  cross  from 
her  own  throat,  and  laid  it  in  the  book. 

Then  all  landed,  and,  with  a  cordial  hand-shake  and 
many  thanks,  left  Joel  to  row  away,  quite  unconscious 
that  he  was  a  hero  in  the  pretty  girl's  eyes,  till  he 
found  the  tokens  of  his  passengers'  regard  and  respect. 

"Now  that  is  an  adventure  after  my  own  heait," 
said  Rose,  as  they  rustled  along  the  grassy  path  toward 
the  misty  cloud  that  hung  over  the  Fall. 

"We  have  nothing  but  sandwiches  and   sherry  foi 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER   DAY. 

lunch,  unless  we  find  a  house  and  add  to  our  stores," 
said  Uncle  Ben,  beginning  to  feel  hungry  and  wonder- 
ing  how  far  his  provisions  would  go. 

"  There  is  a  little  girl  picking  berries.  Call  her  and 
buy  some,"  suggested  Milly,  who  had  her  doubts  about 
the  state  of  the  sandwiches,  as  the  knapsack  had  been 
sat  upon. 

A  shout  from  Uncle  Ben  caused  the  little  girl  to  ar> 
proach,  —  timidly  at  first;  but,  being  joined  by  a  boy, 
her  courage  rose,  and  when  the  idea  of  a  "  trade  "  was 
impressed  upon  their  minds  fear  was  forgotten  and  the 
Yankee  appeared. 

"  How  much  a  quart  ?  " 
"Eight  cents,  sir." 

"But  that  birch-bark  thing  is  not  full." 
"Now  it  is,"  and  the   barefooted,  tow-headed   lad 
filled  the  girl's  pannier  from  his  own. 

"  Here's  chivalry  for  you,"  said  Rose,  watching  the 
children  with  interest ;  for  the  girl  was  pretty,  and  the 
boy  evidently  not  her  brother. 

"You  don't  pick  as  fast  as  she  does,"  said  Milly, 
while  Uncle  Ben  hunted  up  the  money. 

"  He's  done  his  stent,  and  was  helpin'  me.     I'll  have 
to  pick  a  lot  before  I  git  my  quarter,"  said   the  £iii, 
defending  her  friend,  in  spite  of  her  bashfulness 
"  Must  you  each  make  a  quarter  ?  " 
"  Yes'm.     We  don't  have  to ;  but  we  wanter,  so  we 
can  go  to  the  circus  that's  comin'  to-morrer.     He  made 
his'n  ketchin'  trout ;  so  he's  helpin'  me,"  explained  the 
girl. 

"  Where  do  you  get  your  trout  ?  "  asked  Uncle  Ben, 
sniffing  the  air,  as  if  he  already  smelt  them  cooking. 


THE   ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER   DAY.       119 

'«•  In  the  brook.  I  ain't  sold  mine  yet.  Want  to  buy 
'era  ?  Six  big  ones  for  a  quarter,"  said  the  boy,  seeing 
hunger  in  the  good  man's  eye  and  many  greenbacks  in 
the  corpulent  purse. 

"  Yes,  if  you'll  clean  them." 

"  But,  Uncle,  we  can't  cook  them,"  began  Milly. 

U7"  can.  Let  an  old  campaigner  alone  for  getting 
ap  a  gipsy  lunch.  You  wanted  a  surprise  ;  so  I'll  give 
you  one.  Now,  Billy,  bring  on  your  fish." 

"My  name  is  Daniel  Webster  Butterfield  Brown," 
returned  the  boy,  with  dignity ;  adding,  with  a  comical 
change  of  tone :  "  Them  fish  is  cleaned,  or  you'd  a  got 
'em  cheaper." 

"  Very  well.     Hand  them  over." 

Off  ran  the  boy  to  the  brook ;  and  the  girl  was  shyly 
following,  when  Rose  said,  — 

"  Will  you  sell  me  that  pretty  bark  pannier  of  yours  ? 
I  want  one  for  my  flowers." 

"  No'm.     I  guess  I'd  ruther  not." 

"  I'll  give  you  a  quarter  for  it.  Then  you  can  go  to 
the  circus  without  working  any  more." 

"Dan  made  this  for  me,  real  careful ;  and  I  couldn't 
sell  it,  no  way.  He  wouldn't  go  without  me.  And 
I'll  pick  stiddy  all  day,  and  git  my  money.  See  if  I 
don't !  "  answered  the  child,  hugging  her  treasure  close. 

"  Here's  your  romance  in  the  bud,"  said  Uncle  Ben, 
drying  not  to  laugh. 

"  It's  beautiful !  "  said  Rose,  with  energy.  "  What  is 
your  name,  dear?" 

"  Gusty  Medders,  please  'm." 

"Dan  isn't  your  brother?" 

"  No  'm.     He  lives  to  the  poor-house.     But  he's  real 


120       THE  ROMANCE   OF  A    SUMMER  DAY. 

smart,  and  we  play  together.  And  him  and  me  i& 
going  to  the  show.  He  always  takes  care  o'  me ;  and 
my  mother  thinks  a  sight  of  him,  and  so  do  I,"  re 
turned  the  child,  in  a  burst  of  confidence. 

"  Happy  little  Gusty ! "  said  Rose,  to  herself. 

"Thrice  happy  Dan,"  added  Uncle  Ben,  producing 
the  fat  pocket-book  again,  with  the  evident  intention 
of  bestowing  a  fortune  on  the  small  couple. 

"Don't  spoil  the  pretty  little  romance.  Don't  rob 
it  of  its  self-sacrifice  and  simplicity.  Let  them  earn 
their  money.  Then  they  will  enjoy  it  more,"  cried 
Milly,  holding  his  hand. 

Uncle  Ben  submitted,  and  paid  Dan  his  price,  with 
out  adding  a  penny. 

"  The  lady  wanted  to  buy  my  basket.  But  I  didn't 
sell  it,  Danny ;  'cause  you  give  it  as  a  keepsake,"  they 
heard  Gusty  say,  as  the  children  turned  away. 

"  Good  for  you,  Gus ;  but  I'll  sell  mine.*'  And  back 
came  Dan,  to  dispose  of  his  for  the  desired  quarter. 
"Now  we're  fixed  complete,  and  you  needn't  pick  a 
darned  berry.  We've  got  fifty  cents  for  the  show,  and 
eight  over  for  peanuts  and  candy.  Won't  we  have  a 
good  time,  though  ?  " 

With  which  joyful  remark  Dan  turned  a  somersault, 
and  then  the  little  pair  vanished  in  the  wood,  with 
shining  faces,  to  revel  in  visions  of  the  splendors  to 
come. 

"Now  you  have  got  your  elephant,  what  are  you 
going  to  do  with  him?"  asked  Rose,  as  they  went  on 
again,  —  she  with  her  pretty  basket  of  fruit,  and  he 
with  a  string  of  fish  wrapped  in  leaves. 

"  Come  on  a  bit,  and  you  will  see." 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER   DAY.       121 

Uncle  Ben  led  them  to  the  shade  of  a  great  maple, 
on  a  green  slope,  in  sight  of  the  noisy  Fall,  leaping 
from  rock  to  rock,  till  the  stream  went  singing  away 
through  wide,  green  meadows  below. 

"Now  rest  and  cool  yourselves,  while  I  cook  the 
dinner."  And  away  bustled  the  good  man,  on  hospi 
table  thoughts  intent. 

Plenty  of  dry  drift-wood  lay  about  the  watercourse, 
and  soon  a  brisk  fire  burned  on  the  rocks  not  far  away. 
Shingles  for  plates,  with  pointed  sticks  for  forks,  seemed 
quite  in  keeping  with  the  rustic  feast ;  and  when  the 
edibles  were  set  forth  on  leaves  the  girls  were  charmed, 
and  praised  the  trout,  as  it  came  hot  from  the  coals,  till 
even  the  flushed  cook  was  satisfied. 

"  I'd  like  to  live  so  always.  It  is  so  interesting  to 
pick  up  your  food  as  you  go,  and  eat  it  when  and  where 
you  like.  I  think  I  could  be  quite  happy  leading  a 
wild  life  like  this,"  said  Rose,  as  she  lay  in  the  grass, 
dropping  berries  one  by  one  into  her  mouth. 

u  You  would  soon  tire  of  it,  Miss  Caprice ;  but,  if  it 
amuses  for  a  single  day,  I  am  satisfied,"  answered 
Milly,  with  her  motherly  smile,  as  she  stroked  the 
bright  head  in  her  lap,  feeling  sure  that  happiness  was 
in  store  for  so  much  youth  and  beauty. 

Lulled  by  the  soft  caress,  and  the  song  of  the  water 
fall,  Rose  fell  asleep,  and  for  an  hour  dreamed  bliss 
fully,  while  the  maple  dropped  its  shadows  on  her 
placid  face,  and  all  the  wholesome  influences  of  the 
place  worked  their  healing  spell  on  soul  and  body. 

"A  thunder-shower  is  rolling  up  in  the  west,  my 
clears.  We  must  be  getting  toward  some  shelter,  un 
less  we  are  to  take  a  drenching  as  part  of  the  day's 


122       THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAT. 

pleasure,"  said  Uncle  Ben,  rising  briskly  after  his  own 
nau. 

*"  I  see  no  house  anywhere  ;  but  a  big  barn  down  in 
the  intervale,  and  a  crowd  of  people  getting  in  their 
hay.  Let  us  make  for  that,  and  lie  on  the  sweet  hay 
cocks  till  the  shower  comes,"  proposed  Milly. 

As  they  went  down  the  steep  pj»*li,  Rose  began  to 
sing;  and  at  the  unwonted  sound  her  uncle  and  friend 
exchanged  glances  of  satisfaction,  for  not  a  note  had 
she  sung  for  weeks.  A  happy  mood  seemed  to  have 
taken  possession  of  her;  and  when  they  reached  the 
intervale  she  won  the  oia  farmer's  heart  by  catching  up 
a  rake  and  working  stoutly,  till  the  first  heavy  drops 
began  to  fall.  Then  she  rode  up  to  the  barn  on  a  fra 
grant  load,  and  was  so  charmed  with  the  place  that  she 
declined  his  invitation  to  "  Come  up  and  see  the  old 
woman  and  set  a  spell,"  and  declared  that  she  depended 
on  enjoying  the  thunder-storm  where  she  was. 

The  farmer  and  his  men  went  their  way,  and  Rose 
was  just  settling  herself  at  the  upper  window,  where 
the  hay  had  been  pitched  in,  when  a  long  line  of  gay 
red  vans  came  rattling  down  the  road,  followed  by 
carriages  and  gilded  cars,  elephants  and  camels,  fine 
horses  and  frisky  ponies,  all  more  or  less  excited  by  the 
coming  storm. 

u  It's  the  circus !  How  I  wish  Gusty  and  Dan  could 
see  it ! "  cried  Rose,  clapping  her  hands  like  a  child. 
"  I  do  believe  they  are  coming  here.  Now  that  will  be 
charming,  and  the  best  adventure  of  all,"  she  added,  as 
a  carriage  and  several  vans  turned  into  the  grassy  road 
leading  to  the  barn. 

A  pair  of  elephants  slowly  lumbered  after,  with  a 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  4  SUMMER  DAT.      123 

camel  or  two,  and  the  finest  gilded  car.  The  rest  rat 
tled  on,  hoping  to  reach  the  town  in  time.  In  a  moment 
the  quiet  country  scene  was  changed,  and  the  big  barn 
transformed  into  a  theatrical  Babel. 

Our  party  retreated  to  a  loft,  and  sat  locking  down 
on  the  show,  enjoying  it  heartily ;  especially  Rose,  who 
fi;lt  as  if  suddenly  translated  into  an  Eastern  tale. 
The  storm  came  on  dark  and  wild,  rain  poured,  thundei 
rolled,  and  lightning  gave  lurid  glimpses  of  the  strange 
surroundings. 

The  elephants  placidly  ate  hay ;  the  tired  camels  lay 
down  with  gusty  sighs  and  queer  groanings;  but  the 
lion  in  his  lonely  van  roared  royally  at  intervals,  and 
the  tigers  snarled  and  tore  about  their  cage  like  restless 
demons. 

The  great  golden  car  lit  up  the  gloom ;  and  in  it  sat, 
or  lay,  the  occupants  of  the  carriage,  —  a  big,  dark  man, 
and  a  little  blonde  creature,  with  a  pretty,  tired,  painted 
face.  Rose  soon  found  herself  curiously  attracted  to 
this  pair,  for  they  were  evidently  lovers ;  and  there  was 
a  certain  frank,  melodramatic  air  about  them  that  took 
her  fancy.  The  dark  man  lay  on  the  red  cushion, 
smoking  tranquilly ;  while  the  girl  hovered  about  him 
with  all  manner  of  small  attentions.  Presently  he 
seemed  to  drop  asleep,  undisturbed  by  the  thunder 
without  or  the  clamor  within.  Then  the  small  creature 
smoothed  her  gay  yet  shabby  dress,  and  braided  up  hei 
hair,  as  composedly  as  if  in  her  own  room.  That  done, 
she  looked  about  her  for  amusement;  and,  spying 
Rose's  interested  face  peering  down  at  her  from  above, 
she  nodded,  and  called  out,  in  a  saucy  voice,  — 

"  How  do  you  like  us?  Shall  I  come  up  and  make 
,you  a  visit?" 


THE   ROMANCE   OF  A    SUMMER    DAJ. 

"  I  beg  you  will,"  answered  Rose,  in  spite  of  a  warn 
ing  touch  from  Milly. 

Up  sprang  the  little  circus-rider  ;  and,  disdaining  the 
ladder,  skipped  to  the  gilded  dome  of  the  car,  and  then 
took  a  daring  leap  on  to  the  loft,  landing  near  them, 
with  a  laugh. 

For  a  minute  she  eyed  the  others  with  a  curious  mix« 
ture  of  coolness  arid  hesitation,  as  if  it  suddenly  struck 
her  that  they  were  not  country  girls,  to  be  dazzled  by 
her  audacity.  Milly  saw  and  understood  the  pause, 
liked  the  girl  for  it,  and  said,  as  courteously  as  if  to  a 
lady  in  her  own  parlor, — 

"  There  is  plenty  of  room  for  us  all.  Pray  sit  down 
and  enjoy  this  fine  view  with  us.  The  storm  is  passing 
over  now,  and  it  will  soon  be  fair." 

"Thank  you!"  said  the  girl,  dropping  on  to  the  hay, 
with  her  bold,  bright  eyes,  full  of  admiration,  fixed  on 
Rose,  who  smiled,  and  said  quickly,  — 

"  You  l~^long  to  the  troop,  I  suppose?" 

"  Fir&u  xady  rider,"  replied  the  girl,  with  a  toss  of  the 
head. 

"  It  must  be  very  romantic  to  lead  such  a  life,  and  go 
driving  from  place  to  place  in  this  way." 

"  It's  a  hard  life,  any  way ;  and  not  much  romance, 
you'd  better  believe." 

"Not  even  for  you?  And  Rose  glanced  at  the 
sleeper  below. 

The  girl  smiled.  Her  bold  eyes  turned  to  him  with 
a  softened  look,  and  the  natural  color  deepened  on  her 
painted  cheeks,  as  she  said,  in  a  lower  voice,  — 

"Yes,  Joe  does  make  a  difference  for  me.  We've 
Dnly  been  married  three  weeks." 

"What  does  he  <1>9" 


THE  ROMANCE    OF  A    SUldMER   DAY.       125 

"He's  the  lion-tamer."  And  the  girl  gave  them  a 
glance  of  wifely  pride  in  her  husband's  prowess. 

"Oh!  tell  me  about  it!"  cried  Rose.  "I  admire 
courage  so  much." 

"  You  ought  to  see  him  do  Daniel  in  the  lion's  den, 
then.  Or  his  great  tiger  act,  where  he  piles  four  of  'em 
up,  and  lays  on  top.  It's  just  splendid ! " 

"But  very  dangerous!  Does  he  never  fear  them? 
And  do  they  never  hurt  him  ?  " 

"He  don't  fear  any  thing  in  the  world,"  said  the 
girl,  entirely  forgetting  herself,  in  enthusiastic  praise 
of  her  husband. 

"  Caesar,  the  lion,  loves  him  like  a  dog ;  and  Joe 
xrusts  him  as  he  does  me.  But  them  tigers  are  deceit 
ful  beasts,  and  can't  be  trusted  a  minute.  Judas  went 
at  Joe  once,  and  half  killed  him.  He  seems  tame 
enough  now ;  but  I  hate  him,  for  they  say  that  if  a 
tiger  once  tastes  a  man's  blood  he's  sure  to  kill  him 
sooner  or  later.  So  I  don't  have  a  minute's  peace  when 
Joe  is  in  that  cage."  And  the  little  woman  shivered 
with  very  genuine  anxiety  at  the  thought  of  her  hus 
band's  danger. 

"And,  knowing  this,  he  runs  the  risk  every  day! 
What  a  life!"  said  Uncle  Ben,  looking  down  at  the 
unconscious  Joe. 

"A  brave  life,  Uncle,  and  full  of  excitement.  The 
minutes  in  that  cage  must  be  splendid.  I  wish  I  could 
see  him  once ! "  cried  Rose,  with  the  restless  look  in  her 
eyes  again. 

"  He'd  do  it,  if  he  had  his  things  here.  He  11  do  any 
thing  I  ask  him,"  said  the  girl,  evidently  proud  of  her 
power  over  the  lion-tamer. 


126   THE  ROMANCE  OF  A  SUMMER  DAY. 

"  We  will  come  and  see  him  to-morrow.  Can't  you 
tell  us  how  he  manages  to  subdue  these  wild  animals? 
I  always  wanted  to  know  about  it,"  said  Rose,  wondering 
if  she  could  not  get  some  hints  for  the  taming  of  men. 

"  Joe  '11  tell  you."  And,  calling  from  her  perch,  the 
girl  waked  the  sleeper  and  ordered  him  up  to  amuse 
the  gentle-folk. 

The  big  man  came,  with  comical  meekness;  and, 
lounging  on  the  hay,  readily  answered  the  questions 
showered  upon  him.  Rose  enjoyed  that  hour  intensely; 
for  the  tales  Joe  told  were  full  of  wild  adventure,  hair 
breadth  escapes,  and  feats  of  strength  or  skill,  that 
kept  his  listeners  half  breathless  with  interest.  The 
presence  of  the  little  wife  gave  an  added  charm  to 
these  stories ;  for  it  was  evident  that  the  tamer  of  lions 
was  completely  subdued  by  the  small  woman.  His 
brown,  scarred  face  softened  as  it  turned  to  her. 
While  he  talked,  the  strong  hands  that  clutched  lions 
by  the  throat  were  softly  stroking  the  blonde  head  at 
his  side ;  and,  when  he  told  of  the  fierce  struggle  with 
Judas,  he  grew  so  eloquent  over  the  account  of  Kitty's 
nursing  him  that  it  was  plain  to  see  he  was  prouder  of 
the  conquest  of  her  girl's  heart  than  of  his  hard-won 
victory  over  the  treacherous  tiger. 

The  man's  courage  lent  romance  to  his  vulgar  life, 
and  his  love  ennobled  his  whole  nature  for  a  time. 
Kitty  ate  peanuts  while  he  thrilled  his  hearers  with  his 
feats;  but  her  face  was  so  full  of  pride  and  affection 
all  the  while  that  no  one  minded  what  she  did,  and 
even  Milly  forgave  the  painted  cheeks  and  cotton 
velvet  dress  for  the  sake  of  the  womanly  heart  under 
neath 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAT.       12T 

The  storm  passed,  the  circus  people  bestirred  them 
selves,  and  in  a  few  minutes  were  on  their  way  again. 
Joe  and  Kitty  said  "Good-by"  as  heartily  as  if  that 
half-hour  had  made  them  friends ;  and,  packing  them 
selves  into  the  little  carriage  drawn  by  the  calico 
tandem,  dashed  away  as  gayly  as  if  their  queer  honey 
moon  journey  had  just  begun.  Like  parts  of  a  stage 
pageant,  the  gilded  car,  the  elephants  and  camels,  frisky 
ponies,  and  gay  red  vans  vanished  along  the  winding 
road,  leaving  the  old  barn  to  silence  and  the  scandal 
ized  swallows  twittering  among  the  rafters. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I'd  been  to  an  Arabian  Night's  enter 
tainment,"  said  Rose,  as  they  descended  and  turned 
toward  home. 

"  It  was  very  interesting,  and  I  do  hope  that  brave 
Joe  won't  get  eaten  up  by  the  tigers.  What  would 
poor  Kitty  do  ?  "  returned  Milly,  warmly. 

"  It  would  be  sad  and  dreadful ;  but  she  would  have 
the  comfort  of  knowing  how  much  he  loved  her.  Some 
women  don't  even  have  that,"  added  Rose,  under  her 
breath. 

"A  capital  fellow  and  a  nice  little  woman.  We'll 
go  and  see  them  to-morrow ;  though  I  fancy  I  shall 
not  like  Mrs.  Kitty  half  so  well  in  gauze  and  spangles, 
jumping  through  hoops  and  over  banners  on  horseback, 
as  I  did  on  the  hayloft.  And  I  shall  be  desperately 
anxious  till  Joe  is  safely  out  of  the  tiger's  cage,"  said 
Uncle  Ben,  who  had  been  as  interested  as  a  boy  in  the 
wild  tales  told  them. 

For  an  hour  they  walked  back  along  the  river-side, 
enjoying  the  wood  odors  brought  out  by  the  shower, 
the  glories  of  the  sunset  sky,  and  the  lovely  rainbow 


128       THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAT. 

that  arched  overhead,  —  a  bow  of  promise  to  those  who 
seemed  passing  under  it  from  the  old  L^e  to  a  new  one, 
full  of  tender  promise. 

"  I  see  a  nice  old  woman  in  that  kitchen,  and  I  want 
to  stop  and  ask  for  some  new  milk.  Perhaps  she  will 
give  us  our  supper,  and  then  we  can  go  on  by  moon 
light,"  said  Rose,  as  they  came  to  a  weather-beaten 
farm-house,  standing  under  an  ancient  elm,  with  its 
door  hospitably  open,  and  a  grandmotherly  figure  going 
to  and  fro  within. 

Rose's  request  was  most  graciously  received,  for  the 
old  woman  seemed  to  regard  them  "as  most  welcome 
cheerers  of  her  solitude,  and  bustled  about  with  an 
infectious  cordiality  that  set  them  at  their  ease  directly. 

"  Do  tell !  Caught  in  the  shower  ?  It  come  sf 
suddin',  I  mistrusted  some  folks  would  get  a  duckin'. 
You  kin  hev  supper  jest  as  wal  as  not.  'Tain't  a  mite 
o'  trouble,  ef  you  don't  mind  plain  vittles.  Enos  and 
me  lives  alone,  and  he  ain't  no  gret  of  an  eater ;  but  I 
allers  catle'ate  to  hev  a  good  store  of  pervision  on  hand 
this  time  a  year,  there's  such  a  sight  of  strangers  round 
the  mountains.  The  table's  all  sot ;  and  I'll  jest  add  a 
pinch  of  tea  and  a  couple  of  pies,  and  there  we  be. 
Now  draw  right  up,  and  do  the  best  you  kin." 

The  cheery  old  soul  was  so  hospitable  that  her 
presence  gave  a  grace  to  her  homely  table  and  added 
flavor  to  her  plain  fare:  Uncle  Ben's  eyes  twinkled 
when  he  saw  dainty  Rose  eating  brown-bread  and  milk 
out  of  a  yellow  bowl,  with  the  appetite  of  a  dairy 
maid  ;  an(i,Milly  rejoiced  over  the  happy  face  opposite., 
wishing  that  it  might  always  wear  that  self-forgetful 
look. 


THE   ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAY.       129 

Enos  was  a  feeble,  bed-ridden,  old  man,  who  lay  in  a 
small  room  opening  from  the  kitchen.  A  fretful  invalid 
he  seemed  to  be,  hard  to  suit  and  much  given  to  com 
plaint.  But  the  tender  old  wife  never  lost  patience 
with  him ;  and  it  was  beautiful  to  see  how  cheerfully 
she  trotted  to  and  fro,  trying  to  gratify  every  whim, 
without  a  reproachful  word  or  thought  of  weariness. 

After  tea,  as  Rose  wanted  to  wait  till  moonrise, 
Uncle  Ben  went  in  to  chat  with  the  invalid,  while 
Milly  insisted  on  wiping  the  cups  for  the  old  lady ;  and 
Rose  sat  on  the  doorstep,  listening  to  their  chat,  and 
watching  twilight  steal  softly  up  the  valley.  Presently 
her  attention  was  fixed  by  something  the  old  lady  said 
in  answer  to  Milly's  praises  of  the  quaint  kitchen. 

"  Yes,  dear,  I've  lived  here  all  my  days.  Was  born  in 
that  bed-room;  and  don't  ask  no  better  than  to  die 
there  when  my  time  comes." 

"  Most  people  are  not  fortunate  enough  to  keep  their 
old  home  when  they  marry.  It  must  be  very  dear  to 
you,  having  spent  both  your  maiden  and  married  life 
here,"  said  Milly,  interested  in  her  hostess. 

"  Wai,  you  see  my  maiden  life  lasted  sixty  year ;  and 
my  married  life  ain't  but  jest  begun,"  answered  the  old 
lady,  with  a  laugh  as  gay  as  a  girl's. 

Seeing  curiosity  in  the  quick  glance  Rose  involun 
tarily  gave  her,  the  chatty  old  soul  went  on,  as  if  gossip 
was  dear  to  her  heart,  and  her  late-coming  happiness 
still  so  new  that  she  loved  to  tell  it. 

"  I  s'pose  that  sounds  sing'lar  to  you  young  things ; 
but,  you  see,  though  me  and  Enos  was  engaged  at 
twenty  or  so,  we  warn't  married  till  two  year  ago. 
Things  was  dreadful  con' try,  and  we  kep  a  waitin'  and 

9 


130       THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DA*. 

d  waitin',  till  I  declare  for't  I  really  did  think  I  should 
die  an  old  maid."  And  she  laughed  again,  as  if  her 
•escape  was  the  best  joke  in  the  world. 

"  And  you  waited  forty  years  ?  "  cried  Rose,  with  her 
great  eyes  full  of  wonder. 

"Yes,  de.nr.  I  had  other  chances;  but  somehow  they 
didn't  none  of  them  suit,  and  the  more  unfort'nate 
Enos  was  the  more  I  kinder  held  on  to  him.  He  was 
one  of  them  that's  allers  tryin'  new  things,  and  didn't 
never  seem  to  make  a  fortin  out  of  any  on  'em.  He 
kept  a  tryin'  because  he  had  nothin',  and  would'nt 
marry  till  he  was  wal  off.  My  mother  was  dead,  and 
left  a  family  to  be  took  care  on.  I  was  the  oldest  gal, 
and  so  I  nat'rally  kept  house  for  father  till  he  died,  and 
the  children  grew  up  and  married  off.  So  I  warn't 
idle  all  them  years,  and  got  on  first-rate,  allers  hopin' 
Enos's  luck  would  turn.  But  it  didn't  (them  cups  goes 
in  the  right-hand  corner,  dear) ;  and  so  I  waited  and 
waited,  and  hoped  and  hoped." 

"Oh!  how  could  you?"  sighed  Rose,  from  the  soft 
gloom  of  the  doorway. 

"  'Pears  to  me  strength  is  give  us  most  wonderful  to 
bear  trials,  if  we  take  'em  meek.  I  used  to  think  I 
couldn't  bear  it  no  way  when  I  was  left  here  alone, 
while  Enos  was  in  Californy ;  and  I  didn't  know  for 
seven  year  whether  he  was  dead  or  alive.  His  folks 
give  him  up  ;  but  I  never  did,  and  kept  on  hopin'  and 
prayin'  for  him  till  he  come  back." 

"  How  happy  you  were  then ! "  cried  Rose,  as  if  she 
could  sympathize  heartily  with  that  joy. 

"  No,  I  warn't,  dear.  That  was  the  hardest  part  on't ; 
for  Enos  was  married  to  a  poor,  shiftless  thing,  that  was 
a  burden  to  him  for  ten  year.'" 


THE  ROMANCE   Ob'  A   SUMMER  DAT.       131 

rt  That  was  hard,"  and  Rose  gave  a  groan,  as  if  a  new 
trouble  had  suddenly  come  upon  her. 

"  I  done  my  best  for  'em,  in  their  ups  and  downs,  till 
they  went  West.  Then  I  settled  down  to  end  my  days 
here  alone.  My  folks  was  all  dead  or  fur  away,  and  it 
was  uncommon  lonesome.  But  I  kinder  clung  to  the 
Did  place,  and  had  it  borne  in  upon  me  strong  that  Enos 
would  turn  up  agin  in  time.  I  wanted  him  to  find  me 
here,  ready  to  give  him  a  helpin'  hand  whenever  and 
however  he  come." 

"  And  he  did,  at  last  ? "  asked  Rose,  with  a  sympa 
thetic  quiver  in  her  voice  that  went  to  the  old  woman's 
heart. 

"  Yes,  my  deary ;  he  did  come  at  last,"  she  said,  in  a 
voice  full  of  a  satisfaction  that  was  almost  solemn  in  its 
intensity.  "  Ruther  mor'n  two  years  ago  he  knocked  at 
that  door,  a  poor,  broken-down  old  man,  without  wife, 
or  child,  or  money,  or  home,  —  nothin'  in  the  wide  world 
but  me.  He  didn't  think  I'd  take  him  in,  he  was  so 
mis'able.  But,  Lord  love  him,  what  else  had  I  been  a 
waitin'  for  them  forty  year  £  It  warn't  the  Enos  that 
I  loved  fust;  but  that  didn't  matter  one  mite.  And 
when  he  sat  sobbin'  in  that  chair,  and  sayin'  he  had  no 
friend  but  me,  why  I  just  answered  back :  *  My  home  is 
your'n,  Enos ;  and  I  give  it  jest  as  hearty  as  I  did  when 
you  fust  pupposed,  under  the  laylock  bushes,  in  the  back 
gardin.  Rest  here,  my  poor  dear,  and  let  Becky  take 
care  on  you  till  she  dies.' " 

"  So  he  stayed  ?  "  said  Milly,  with  tears  in  her  voice, 
for  Rose's  head  was  down  on  her  knees,  so  eloquent  had 
been  the  pathos  of  that  old  voice,  telling  its  little  tale 
of  faithful  love. 


132   THE  ROMANCE  OF  A  SUMMER  DAY. 

u  Certin.  And  we  was  married,  so  no  one  need  make 
no  talk.  Folks  said  it  was  a  dreadful  poor  match,  and 
took  on  about  my  doin'  on't ;  for  I'm  wal  off,  and  Enos 
hadn't  a  cent.  But  we  was  satisfied,  and  I  ain't  never 
repented  of  that  day's  work ;  for  he  took  to  his  bed 
soon  after,  and  won't  quit  it,  the  doctor  says,  till  he's 
took  to  his  grave." 

"  You  dear  soul,  I  must  kiss  you  for  that  lovely  deed 
of  yours,  and  thank  you  from  my  heart  for  this  lesson 
in  fidelity."  And,  obeying  an  irresistible  impulse,  Rose 
threw  her  arms  round  the  old  lady's  neck,  kissing  the 
wrinkled  cheek  with  real  reverence  and  tenderness. 

"  Sakes  alive !  Wal,  I  never  did  see  sech  a  soft 
hearted  little  creter.  Why,  child,  what  I  done  warn't 
nothin'  but  a  pleasure.  We  women  are  such  queer 
things,  we  don't  care  how  long  we  wait,  ef  we  only 
hev  our  way  at  last." 

As  she  spoke,  the  old  woman  hugged  the  blooming 
girl  with  a  motherly  warmth,  most  sweet  and  comforta 
ble  to  see ;  yet  the  longing  look,  the  lingering  touch, 
betrayed  how  much  the  tender  old  heart  would  have 
loved  to  pillow  there  a  child  of  its  own. 

Just  then  Uncle  Ben  appeared,  and  the  early  moon 
peeped  over  the  mountain-top,  plainly  hinting  that  it 
was  time  for  the  wanderers  to  turn  homeward.  Bidding 
their  hospitable  hostess  good  night,  they  came  again 
into  the  woody  road,  now  haunted  with  soft  shadows 
and  silvery  with  falling  dew.  The  brown  brooks  were 
ringing  lullabies,  the  pines  whispering  musically  in  the 
wind,  the  mellow  moonlight  was  falling  everywhere, 
and  the  world  was  full  of  the  magical  beauty  of  a  mid 
summer's  night. 


THE  ROMANCE    OF  A   SUMMER  DAY.       133 

"  Go  on,  please,  and  let  me  follow  alone.  I  want  to 
think  over  my  pleasant  day,  and  finish  it  with  waking 
dreams,  as  I  go  through  this  enchanted  wood,"  said 
Rose,  whose  mind  was  full  of  sweet  yet  sober  thoughts ; 
for  she  had  gathered  herbs  of  grace  while  carelessly 
pulling  wayside  flowers,  and  from  the  simple,  adventureg 
of  the  day  had  unconsciously  received  lessons  that  never 
were  forgotten. 

The  other  walked  on,  and  the  girl  followed,  living 
over  again  the  happy  winter  during  which  she  had 
learned  to  know  and  love  the  young  neighbor  who  had 
become  the  hero  of  her  dreams.  She  had  felt  sure  he 
loved  her,  though  the  modest  youth  had  never  told  hei 
so,  except  with  eloquent  glances  and  tender  devotion. 
She  believed  in  him,  loved  him  truly,  and  waited  with 
maidenly  patience  to  hear  the  words  that  would  unseal 
her  lips.  They  did  not  come,  and  he  had  left  her  with 
no  hope  but  such  as  she  could  find  in  the  lingering 
pressure  of  his  hand  and  the  warmly  uttered  "  I  shalj 
see  you  again." 

Since  then,  no  line,  no  word;  and  all  through  the 
lovely  spring  she  had  looked  and  waited  for  the  brown- 
bearded  student,  —  looked  and  waited  in  vain.  Then 
unrest  took  possession  of  her,  anxiety  tormented  her, 
and  despair  made  her  young  face  pathetic.  Only  the 
sad,  simple  old  story,  but  as  bitter  to  live  through  now 
as  in  poor  Dido's  day;  more  bitter,  perhaps,  because 
we  cannot  erect  funeral  pyres  and  consume  the  body 
with  a  flame  less  fierce  than  that  which  burns  away  the 
Boul  unseen. 

Now  in  the  silence  of  that  summer  night  a  blessed 
peace  seemed  to  fall  on  the  girl's  unquiet  heart,  as  she 


134       THfi  ROMANCE   OF  A    SUMMER  DAY. 

trod  thoughtfully  along  the  shadowy  road.  Courage 
and  patience  seemed  to  spring  up  within  her.  To  wait 
and  hope  and  love  without  return  became  a  possibility ; 
and,  though  a  few  hot  tears  rolled  down  the  cheeks, 
that  had  lost  their  roses,  the  eyes  that  shed  them  were 
more  tender  for  the  tears,  and  the  heart  that  echoed 
the  old  wife's  words  — "  Strength  is  given  us  to  bear 
our  trials,  if  we  take  them  meekly  "  —  was  worthier  of 
life's  best  blessing,  love,  because  of  its  submission. 

As  she  paused  a  moment  to  wipe  away  the  tell-tale 
drops,  before  she  joined  the  others,  the  sound  of  far-off 
music  came  on  the  wings  of  the  wind,  —  a  man's  voice, 
singing  one  of  the  love-lays  that  are  never  old.  As  if" 
spell-bound,  Rose  stood  motionless  in  the  broad  streak 
of  light  that  fell  athwart  the  road.  She  knew  the  voice, 
the  sweet  old  song  seemed  answering  her  prayer,  and 
now  it  needed  no  golden  butterfly  to  guide  her  to  her 
lover. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  singer,  pouring  out  his 
lay  as  if  his  heart  was  in  it.  Brighter  and  brighter 
glowed  the  human  rose,  as  the  featherless  nightingale 
told  his  tale  in  music,  unconsciously  approaching  the 
happy  sequel  with  each  step. 

Out  from  the  gloom  he  came,  at  last ;  saw  her  wait 
ing  for  him  in  the  light ;  seemed  to  read  the  glad  truth 
in  her  face,  and  stretched  both  hands  to  her  without  a 
word.  She  took  them ;  and  what  followed  who  shall 
say  ?  For  the  moon,  best  friend  of  lovers,  discreetly 
slipped  behind  a  cloud,  and  the  pines  whispered  their 
congratulations  as  they  wrapped  the  twain  in  deepest 
shadow. 

When,  half  an  hour  later,  they  joined  the  other  pair 


THE  ROMANCE   OF  A   SUMMER  DAY.       135 

( \Vlio,  strange  to  say,  had  quite  forgotten  their  charge), 
Uncle  Ben  exclaimed,  as  he  welcomed  the  new-comer 
with  unusual  cordiality :  "  Why,  Rose !  You  look  quite 
glorified  in  this  light  and  as  well  as  ever.  We  must 
try  this  cure  again." 

"No  need,  sir.  I  have  done  with  the  heartache,  and 
here  is  my  physician,"  answered  Rose,  with  a  look  at 
her  lover  which  told  the  story  better  than  the  best 
chosen  words. 

"And  here  is  mine,"  echoed  Milly,  leaning  on  Uncle 
Ben's  arm  as  if  it  belonged  to  her ;  as  it  did,  for  the 
moonlight  had  been  too  much  for  the  old  bachelor, 
and,  in  spite  of  his  fifty  years,  he  had  wooed  and  won 
Milly  as  ardently  as  any  boy.  So  the  lonely  future  she 
had  accepted  so  cheerfully  suddenly  bloomed  with  happy 
hopes ;  and  the  older  couple  looked  as  blissfully  content 
as  the  young  pair,  who  greeted  with  the  blithest  laughter 
that  ever  woke  the  echoes  of  the  wood,  this  fit  ending  to 
the  romance  of  a  summer  day. 


MY  ROCOCO  WATCH. 


ALL  three  of  us  were  inspired  with  an  intense  desire 
to  possess  one  of  these  quaint  watches,  the 
moment  we  saw  one  hanging  at  the  side  of  a  certain 
lovely  woman  at  a  party  where  it  created  a  great  sen 
sation. 

Imitations  we  would  not  have,  and  the  genuine  arti 
cle  could  not  be  found  even  in  Geneva,  the  paradise  of 
time-pieces.  My  sisters  soon  ceased  to  pine  for  the 
impossible,  and  contented  themselves  with  other  an 
tique  gauds.  Fan  rejoiced  in  a  very  ugly  Cinque-Cento 
ring  like  a  tiny  coffin,  and  Mary  was  the  proud  pos 
sessor  of  a  Roman  necklace  composed  of  gods  and 
goddesses. 

I,  however,  remained  true  to  my  first  love  and  refused 
to  be  satisfied  with  any  thing  but  a  veritable  rococo 
watch,  for  that,  I  maintained,  united  the  useful  and 
rthe  beautiful.  Resisting  the  temptations  of  Rome, 
Paris,  and  Geneva,  I  skilfully  lured  my  unsuspecting 
party  into  all  sorts  of  out-of-the-way  places  under 
pretence  of  studying  up  the  old  French  cathedrals. 

The  girls  did  the  churches  faithfully,  but  I  shirked 
them  and  spent  my  shining  hours  poking  about  dirty 
streets  and  staring  in  at  the  windows  of  ancient  jewelry 
shops,  patiently  seeking  for  the  watch  of  my  dreams. 
I  was  rallied  unmercifully  upon  my  mania,  and  many 


MY  ROCOCO   WATCH.  137 

jokes  were  played  upon  me  by  the  frolicksome  girls, 
who  more  than  once  sent  me  posting  off  by  reports  of 
some  remarkable  trinket  in  some  almost  unattainable 
place. 

But,  nothing  daunted,  I  continued  my  vain  search 
all  through  France,  and  never  relinquished  my  hope 
till  we  left  St.  Malo  on  our  way  to  Brest,  whence  we 
were  to  sail  for  home.  Then  I  despaired,  and,  having 
nothing  more  to  toil  for,  began  to  enjoy  myself  with  a 
free  mind,  and  then  it  was  that  capricious  fortune 
chose  to  smile  upon  me  and  reward  my  long  quest. 

Finding  that  we  had  a  day  before  us,  we  explored 
the  queer  old  town,  and,  as  our  tastes  varied,  each 
went  a  different  way.  I  roamed  about  the  narrow 
streets,  seeking  some  odd  souvenir  to  carry  away,  and 
was  peering  into  a  dark  lane,  attracted  by  some  fine 
shells,  when  suddenly  I  was  arrested  by  a  sight  which 
caused  me  to  pause  in  the  middle  of  a  puddle,  exclaim 
ing  dramatically,  "  At  last !  at  last ! " 

Yes,  there,  in  the  dusty  window  of  a  pawnbroker's 
shop,  hung  the  most  enchanting  watch,  crystal  ball, 
silver  chains,  enamelled  medallions,  and  cluster  of 
charms,  all  encrusted  with  pearls,  garnets,  and  tur 
quoises  set  in  the  genuine  antique  style.  One  long 
gaze,  one  rapturous  exclamation,  and  I  skipped  from 
the  puddle  to  the  door-step,  bent  on  securing  the  prize 
at  all  costs. 

Bouncing  in  upon  a  withered  little  man,  who  was 
taking  coffee  in  a  shadowy  recess,  I  demanded  tho 
price  of  the  watch.  Of  course  the  little  man  was  en 
the  alert  at  once,  and  began  by  protesting  that  it  was 
not  for  sale ;  but  I  saw  the  fib  in  his  eye,  and  sweetly 


138  MY   ROCOCO    WATCH. 

insisted  that  I  must  have  it.  Then  he  improvised  a 
mournful  tale  about  a  family  of  rank  reduced  by  mis 
fortune  and  forced  to  dispose  of  their  cherished  relics 
in  some  private  manner.  I  affected  to  believe  the 
touching  romance,  and  oifered  a  handsome  sum  for  the 
watch,  which,  on  closer  inspection,  struck  me  as  rather 
more  antique  than  even  I  desired. 

Instantly  the  little  man  clasped  his  hands  and  pro 
tested  that  it  was  an  insult  to  propose  such  a  paltry 
price  for  so  beautiful  and  perfect  a  treasure.  Double 
the  sum  might  be  a  temptation,  but  not  a  sou  less. 

This  was  so  absurd  that  I  tried  to  haggle  a  little  ; 
but  I  never  succeeded  in  that  line,  so  my  attempt 
ended  in  both  of  us  getting  angry,  when  the  little  man 
tore  the  watch  from  my  hands,  and  I  left  the  shop  as 
precipitately  as  I  entered  it. 

Retiring  to  the  square  to  cool  my  indignation,  I  was 
reposing  on  a  bench,  when  I  beheld  the  little  man 
approaching  with  the  blandest  expression,  and,  bowing 
profoundly,  he  resumed  the  subject  as  if  we  had  parted 
amicably. 

"  If  madame  would  allow  him  to  consult  the  owner 
of  this  so  charming  watch,  the  affair  might  yet  be 
arranged  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  If  madame  would 
leave  her  address,  he  would  report  to  her  in  a  few 
hours,  and  have  the  happiness  of  obliging  the  dear 
Lady." 

I  consented,  but  preferred  to  return  to  his  shop  later 
in  the  day,  for  I  wished  to  astonish  the  girls  by  pro 
ducing  my  prize  at  some  opportune  moment,  and  I 
much  feared  if  I  told  them  of  my  discovery  that  the 
bargain  would  never  be  made. 


MY  ROCOCO    WATCH.  139 

suffered  agonies  of  suspense  for  hours,  but  basely 
attributed  my  restlessness  to  the  heat  and  weariness. 
Five  o'clock  and  dinner,  but  I  declined  going  down, 
and  slipped  away  to  my  tryst  with  the  little  old  man. 
He  was  ready  for  me  with  another  romance  of  the 
noble  owner's  reluctance  to  part  with  an  heirloom  for 
less  than  the  price  he  had  named.  In  vain  I  talked, 
wheedled,  and  protested ;  the  crafty  little  man  saw  that 
I  meant  to  have  that  watch,  and  was  firm.  At  last  I 
pretended  to  give  it  up,  and,  thanking  him  for  his 
trouble,  retired  mournfully,  hoping  he  would  follow  me 
again,  for  I  had  told  him  that  I  should  leave  in  the 
steamer  expected  next  day. 

But  the  evening  passed,  and  no  little  man  appeared, 
although  I  sat  on  the  balcony  till  the  moon  rose. 
Morning  came,  and  with  it  the  steamer,  but  still  no 
watch  arrived,  as  other  coveted  articles  had  often  done, 
when  we  firmly  refused  to  be  imposed  upon. 

My  secret  agitation  increased,  and  my  temptation 
waxed  stronger  and  stronger  as  the  hour  of  departure 
approached.  The  girls  thought  me  nervous  about  the 
voyage,  but  were  too  busy  to  heed  my  preoccupation, 
while  I  was  too  much  ashamed  of  my  infatuation  to 
confess  it  and  ask  advice. 

Fifteen  minutes  before  we  started  for  the  wharf,  I 
gave  in,  and  muttering  something  about  looking  up  the 
carriage,  I  flew  round  the  corner,  demanded  the  watch, 
paid  an  abominable  price  for  it,  and  sneaked  back, 
knowing  I  had  been  cheated  by  the  sly  old  fellow,  who 
had  evidently  expected  me,  and  whom  I  left  chuckling 
over  his  bargain,  as  well  he  might,  the  rascal ! 

The  moment  the  deed  was  done  my  spirits  returned, 


140  MY  ROCOCO   WATCH. 

and  I  beamed  upon  my  sisters  as  benignly  as  if  I  car 
ried  a  boundless  supply  of  good  humor  in  my  pocket 
instead  of  that  costly  watch  packed  up  in  a  shabby 
little  box. 

We  sailed,  and  for  several  days  I  forgot  every  thing 
but  my  ow.n  woe ;  then  came  a  calm,  and  then  choos 
ing  a  moment  when  the  girls  were  comparing  their 
treasures  with  those  of  other  returning  voyagers,  I 
proudly  produced  my  watch.  The  effect  was  superb. 
Cries  of  admiration  greeted  it  from  all  but  my  sisters, 
who  looked  at  one  another  in  comic  dismay  and  burst 
into  fits  of  laughter. 

"  We  saw  it  and  tried  to  get  it,  but  it  cost  so  much 
we  gave  it  up,  and  never  told  lest  Penelope  should  be 
tempted  beyond  her  strength.  We  might  have  spared 
our  pains,  for  it  was  to  be,  and  it  is  vain  to  fight  against 
fate,  only  do  tell  us  if  you  paid  that  Shylock  what  he 
asked  us?"  said  Mary,  naming  a  smaller  sum  than  my 
first  handsome  offer. 

"  I  did  not  pay  that,  and  I  shall  never  tell  what  it 
cost,  for  you  wouldn't  believe  me  if  I  did.  It  was  a 
good  bargain,  I  assure  you  —  for  Shylock,"  I  added  to 
myself,  and  kept  my  secret  jealously,  knowing  I  never 
should  hear  the  last  of  it  if  the  awful  truth  was  known. 

My  treasure  was  so  much  admired  that  I  was  afraid 
it  would  be  ravished  from  me,  and  I  hid  it  in  all  sorts 
of  places,  like  a  magpie  with  a  stolen  spoon.  I  never 
went  on  deck  without  taking  it  with  me  for  safe  keeping. 
I  never  woke  in  the  morning  without  burrowing  under 
my  mattress  to  see  if  it  was  safe,  and  never  turned  in 
for  the  night  without  seeing  that  I  was  prepared  for 
shipwreck  by  having  my  life-preserver  handy  and  half- 


J*   ROCOCO   WATCH.  141 

a-dozen  ship  biscuits,  a  bottle  of  water,  and  the  pre 
cious  box  lashed  firmly  together,  for  with  that  dearly 
bought  watch  I  was  resolved  to  sink  or  swim,  live  or 
die. 

Being  permitted  to  reach  land  in  safety,  I  prepared  to 
eclipse  Fan's  ring  and  Mary's  necklace  with  my  rich 
and  rare  rococo  watch.  But  I  found  it  impossible  to 
set  it  going,  though  I  tried  all  the  keys  in  the  house,  so 
I  took  it  to  an  experienced  watchmaker  and  left  it  to 
be  regulated.  Every  one  knows  what  that  means,  and 
can  imagine  my  impatience  as  week  after  week  went  by 
and  still  that  blessed  thing  was  not  done.  It  came  at 
last,  however,  and  with  it  a  bill  that  startled  me  ;  but  I 
could  not  dispute  it,  for  the  job  was  a  difficult  one, 
owing  to  the  antiquity  of  the  works  and  the  skill  re 
quired  to  set  a  watch  going  that  probably  had  not  been 
wound  up  for  half  a  century. 

It  went  for  a  week,  and  then  stopped  for  ever ;  for  the 
general  verdict  was  that  no  modern  tinkering  would 
restore  its  tone,  since  the  springs  of  life  were  broken 
and  the  venerable  wheels  at  a  dead  lock. 

"  Well,  it  is  ornamental  if  not  useful,  only  I  am  sorry 
I  gave  away  my  good  old  watch,  thinking  this  would  be 
all  I  needed,"  I  said,  making  the  best  of  what  I  alone 
knew  to  be  a  desperately  bad  bargain. 

So  I  hung  the  silent  thing  to  my  girdle  and  went 
forth  to  awaken  the  envy  and  admiration  of  all  beholders. 
But,  alas !  the  second  time  I  wore  it,  one  of  the  medal 
lions  was  lost,  could  not  be  found,  and  its  place  had 
to  be  filled  with  a  modern  one,  entirely  out  of  keeping 
with  the  others.  Bill  the  second  was  paid  with  much 
lamentation,  and  again  I  tried  to  enjoy  my  watch, 


142  MY  ROCOCO   WATCH. 

But  the  fates  seemed  to  be  against  me,  for  presently  it, 
was  stolen  by  a  maid  who  admired  mediaeval  jewelry  as 
well  as  her  mistress. 

What  a  state  of  excitement  we  were  in  then,  to 
be  sure !  Cousin  Dick  took  the  matter  in  hand,  and 
searched  for  the  lost  watch  with  the  patience,  if  not 
the  skill,  of  a  detective.  Mysterious  men  came  to  ex 
amine  the  servants,  dreadful  questions  as  to  its  value 
were  put  to  me,  and,  worst  of  all,  I  knew  that  this  sort 
of  hide-and-go-seek  was  a  fearfully  expensive  game,  and 
of  course  I  wasn't  going  to  let  Dick  pay  for  it. 

It  was  found  at  last,  and  restored  to  me  somewhat 
the  worse  for  the  rough  handling  of  curious  admirers. 
Bill  the  third  was  paid  with  the  calmness  of  despair,  for  I 
really  began  to  think  some  evil  spell  was  hidden  in  that 
crystal  ball ;  a  spell  which  attracted,  then  infatuated, 
and  now  controlled  me,  leading  me  slowly  and  surely, 
through  tribulation  after  tribulation,  to  the  poorhouse 
in  the  end. 

The  accidents  that  befell  that  fatal  watch  would  fill 
a  chapter,  and  the  narrow  escapes  it  had  would  make  a 
thrilling  tale.  Babies  half  choked  themselves  with  the 
charms,  little  Tommy  was  discovered  trying  to  divest 
it  of  all  incumbrances  that  he  might  use  it  as  a  "jolly 
big  marble."  It  was  always  falling  off,  catching  in 
buttons,  or  bobbing  wildly  about  when  I  danced,  and 
more  than  once  I  was  cut  to  the  soul  by  hearing  be 
nighted  people  wonder  at  Miss  Pen's  bad  taste  in  wear 
ing  Salorn  jewelry.  Salorn,  be  it  known  to  the  ignorant, 
is  an  excellent  man  who  deals  in  mock  ornaments  of 
great  brilliancy  and  cheapness. 

Soon  the  jewels  began  to  fall  out,  and  I  scattered 


MY  ROCOCO    WATCH. 

pearls  about  me  like  the  young  lady  in  the  fairy  tale. 
Then  the  chain  broke,  and  the  charms  were  lost.  In 
one  of  the  many  falls,  the  crystal  got  cracked ;  the  silver 
tai  nished  till  it  looked  like  dingy  lead,  and  at  last  no 
beauty  remained  to  reconcile  me  to  its  utter  uselessness. 
My  poor  watch  was  the  standing  joke  of  the  family,  and 
kept  every  one  merry  but  its  owner.  To  me  it  was  4 
disgrace,  and  I  suffered  endless  disappointments  and 
delays  by  having  no  trusty  time-keeper  at  hand.  Pride 
prevented  my  applying  to  others,  and  bitterly  I  mourned 
in  secret  for  the  true  old  friend  I  had  deserted  when  the 
false  new  one  came. 

I  ceased  to  wear  the  hollow  mockery,  and  hoped 
people  would  forget  it,  but  the  girls  still  displayed  their 
more  successful  ornaments ;  and  I  was  forced  to  tell  the 
sad  tale  of  my  mortifying  failure  in  reply  to  the  natural 
question,  — 

"And  what  charming  old  trinket  did  Pen  get?" 

But  this  was  not  the  worst  of  it.  Like  little  Rosa 
mond  in  the  moral  tale,  I  had  to  wear  my  old  shoes 
when  the  purple  jar  proved  a  delusion  and  a  snare.  I 
had  overrun  my  allowance  by  that  rash  purchase,  and 
had  to  economize  just  when  I  most  wished  to  be  fine. 
"Beauty  unadorned,"  and  that  sort  of  thing,  is  all  non 
sense  when  a  woman  burns  to  look  her  loveliest  in  the 
eyes  of  certain  persons,  and  the  anguish  I  endured  when 
I  looked  at  that  rubbishy  old  watch,  and  thought  what 
sweet  things  could  have  been  bought  with  the  money 
recklessly  lavished  upon  it,  can  better  be  imagined  than 
described. 

Fain  would  I  have  sold  my  treasure  for  a  quarter 
what  I  gave  for  it,  but  who  would  buy  the  ruined  relic 


144  MY  ROCOCO    WATCH. 

now?  And  the  mere  idea  of  having  it  even  partially 
repaired  made  my  blood  run  cold.  So  I  laid  it  away 
as  a  warning  example  of  woman's  folly,  and  began  to 
save  up,  that  I  might  replace  it  by  a  modern  watch  with 
all  the  improvements  procurable  for  money. 

I  was  eifectually  cured  of  my  passion  for  antiquities, 
and  hated  the  sound  of  the  word  rococo.  Nothing 
could  be  too  new  for  me  now,  and  I  privately  studied 
up  on  watches,  being  bound  never  to  buy  another, 
which,  though  it  might  last  to  all  eternity,  yet  had  no 
connection  with  time. 

Slowly  the  memory  of  that  temptation  and  fall  seemed 
to  fade  from  all  minds  but  my  own ;  slowly  my  little 
hoard  increased  at  the  expense  of  many  an  ungratified 
whim,  inviting  bargain,  or  girlish  vanity,  and  slowly  I 
decided  what  sort  of  watch  would  most  entirely  com 
bine  the  solid  virtues  arid  modest  graces  I  desired  to 
possess  in  the  new  one  I  intended  to  choose  so  wisely 
and  well. 

But  just  as  my  hundred  dollars  was  nearly  completed, 
I  discovered  that  Dick's  younger  brother,  Geordie,  .had 
got  himself  into  a  boyish  scrape,  and  was  planning  to 
run  away  to  sea  as  the  best  means  of  settling  the  diffi 
culty.  I  was  immediately  possessed,  with  an  intense 
ilesire  to  help  the  poor  lad,  and,  having  won  his  confi 
dence  in  a  desponding  moment,  I  offered  my  little 
hoard  as  a  loan,  to  be  paid  in  time,  if  he  would  accept 
it  on  no  other  condition. 

I  really  don't  think  I  could  have  done  it  for  any  one 
but  Dick's  brother,  and  I  did  not  desire  any  praise  for 
it,  since  I  made  the  boy  take  a  solemn  vow  that  it  should 
be  a  secret  between  us  for  ever.  It  was  reward  enough 


MY  ROCOCO    WATCH. 

to  know  that  I  had  spared  dear  Dick  another  care,  and 
done  something  to  be  more  worthy  of  him,  though  it 
was  only  a  little  sacrifice  like  this. 

So  Geordie  was  a  free  man  again,  and  my  devoted 
slave  from  that  day  forth,  causing  much  merry  wonder 
ment  in  the  family,  and  actually  making  Dick  jealous 
by  his  grateful  gallantry. 

My  sacrifice  cost  me  something  more  than  the  loss 
of  my  watch,  however,  for  with  a  part  of  the  money  I 
had  planned  to  get  a  fine  Christmas  gift  for  some  one, 
and  now  I  was  obliged  to  content  myself  with  such  a 
poor  little  offering  that  the  girls  called  me  mean,  and 
nearly  broke  my  heart  by  insisting  that  I  did  not  care 
for  somebody  who  cared  a  great  deal  for  me.  I  bore  it 
all  and  kept  Geordie's  secret  faithfully ;  but  I  will  con 
fess  that,  in  a  paroxysm  of  anger  with  myself,  I  dashed 
that  hateful  rococo  watch  upon  the  floor  and  trampled 
on  it  as  the  only  adequate  vent  for  the  conflicting  emo 
tions  which  possessed  me. 

But  the  good  fairies  who  fly  about  at  Christmas  time 
set  every  thing  right,  and  broke  the  evil  spell  cast  over 
me  by  the  Breton  magician  in  his  gloomy  cell.  As  we 
sat  about  the  breakfast-table,  talking  over  our  gifts  on 
the  morning  of  that  happy  day,  Dick  and  Geordie  came 
in  to  see  how  wTe  were  after  the  fatigues  of  a  grand 
family  frolic  the  night  before. 

"  Here's  a  new  conundrum ;  guess  it,  girls,"  said 
Geordie,  who  had  the  Dundreary  fever  upon  him  just  at 
that  time.  "  I  was  sent  to  India  and  stopped  there ;  I 
came  back  because  I  did  not  go  there.  Now  what 
was  it?" 

We  puzzled  over  it,  but  gave  it  up  at  last,  and  when 
10 


146  MY  ROCOCO    WATCH. 

Geordie  answered,  "A  watch,"  there  was  a  general 
laugh,  for  since  my  ruinous  speculation  that  word 
always  produced  a  sensation  among  us. 

"  The  place  mentioned  should  have  been  Brittany, 
not  India,  hey,  Pen?"  said  Dick,  with  a  wicked 
twinkle  of  the  eye. 

"Don't,"  I  began,  pathetically,  as  the  girls  giggled, 
and  Mary  added,  with  mock  sympathy,  "  Hush,  boys, 
and  let  that  sacred  sorrow  be  for  ever  hidden  in  Pen's 
own  breast." 

"  Watch  and  pray,  dear,  watch  and  pray,  for  I'm  sure 
you  have  need  of  both,"  cried  Fan,  seeing  my  rising 
wrath. 

"  Pu4  your  hands  before  your  face  but  don't  strike, 
I  beg  of  you,"  cut  in  Geordie,  trying  to  be  witty. 

"  It  is  a  sad  case,  but  I  think  I  have  a  key  that  will 
wind  up  the  affair  and  set  all  going  right,"  began  Dick, 
still  twinkling  with  fun. 

To  have  him  join  the  enemy  was  too  much  for  me, 
because  he  had  always  been  very  careful  to  avoid  that 
tender  point. 

"  If  you  say  another  word,  I'll  throw  the  horrid  thing 
into  the  fire,  for  I'm  sick  to  death  of  hearing  bad  jokes 
made  on  it,"  I  cried,  feeling  a  strong  desire  to  shake 
them  all  round. 

"  No  doubt ;  give  it  to  me,  and  you  shall  never  see 
or  hear  of  it  again.  I  like  old  trinkets,  and  I'll  never 
tell  the  story  of  that  one,  on  my  honor  as  a  gentle 
man,"  said  Dick,  in  a  tone  that  appeased  my  wrath  at 
once. 

u  Do  you  really  want  it  ? "  I  asked,  pleased  and  sur 
prised,  yet  still  a  little  suspicious  of  some  new  joke. 


MY  ROCOCO    WATCH.  147 

"  I  do,  because,  although  it  will  never  go  again,  it 
will  always  remind  me  of  some  of  the  happiest  hours 
and  minutes  of  my  life,  Pen." 

There  was  no  fun  in  Dick's  eyes  as  he  said  that,  and 
I  was  glad  to  hide  the  sudden  color  in  my  cheeks  by 
running  away  to  get  the  poor  old  watch.  But  I  found 
there  was  a  surprise,  and  a  very  pleasant  one,  in  store 
for  me;  for,  as  I  thrust  the  shabby  box  into  Dicks 
pocket,  he  handed  me  a  little  parcel  prettily  tied  up 
with  white  ribbons,  saying  in  his  most  captivating  way, 
"  Fair  exchange  is  no  robbery,  you  know,  so  you  must 
take  this,  and  then  we  shall  be  square." 

"It  looks  like  wedding  cake,"  I  said,  surveying  it 
with  curiosity,  and  wondering  why  Geordie  and  the 
girls  did  not  stop  to  see  the  mystery  unfolded. 

"  No,  that  comes  later,  dear,"  answered  Dick,  in  a 
one  that  made  me  devote  myself  to  the  white  ribbons 
\vith  sudden  zeal. 

A  blue  velvet  case  appeared,  and  I  could  not  resist 
saying,  in  a  voice  more  tender  than  reproachful,  "You 
extravagant  man !  I  know  it  is  something  costly  and 
beautiful  in  return  for  the  disgracefully  mean  gift  I 
gave  you." 

"  Bless  your  innocent  heart,  did  you  think  you  could 
hide  any  thing  from  me?  Geordie  couldn't  keep  a 
secret,  and  I'm  only  paying  his  debt,  Pen  dear,  with 
the  sort  of  interest  women  like,"  Dick  answered,  with 
an  audacious  arm  around  my  waist  and  a  brown  beard 
close  to  my  cheek. 

As  I  did  not  refuse  the  offered  interest,  he  added,  in 
a  softer  tone,  "  My  own  debt  I  never  can  settle  unless 
with  all  my  worldly  goods  I  thee  endow ;  my  heart  you 


148  MY  ROCOCO   WATCH. 

have  had  for  years.     Say  yes,  dear,  and  be  my  littles 
chatelaine" 

Never  mind  what  I  said,  but  I  assure  you  if  it  had 
not  been  for  Dick's  arm  I  should  have  gone  under  the 
table,  when,  a  few  minutes  later,  I  lifted  the  blue 
velvet  lid  and  saw  a  dainty  watch  luxuriously  lying 
on  its  white  satin  bed. 


BY  THE   RIVER. 

A    LEGEND    OF    THE    ASSABET. 


CHAPTER  I. 

IN  the  shadow  of  the  bridge  a  boy  lay  reading  on  the 
grass,  —  a  slender  lad,  broad-browed  and  clear-eyed, 
barefooted  and  clad  in  homespun,  yet  happy  as  a  king ; 
for  health  sat  on  his  sunburned  cheeks,  a  magic  book 
lay  open  before  him,  and  sixteen  years  of  innocence 
gave  him  a  passport  to  the  freshest  pleasures  life  can 
offer. 

"Nat!  Nat!  come  here  and  see!"  cried  a  shrill 
voice  from  among  the  alders  by  the  river-side. 

Bat  Nat  only  shook  his  head  as  if  a  winged  name 
sake  had  buzzed  about  his  ears,  and  still  read  on. 
Presently  a  twelve-years  child  came  scrambling  up  the 
bank,  dragging  a  long  rod  behind  her  with  a  discon 
tented  air. 

"  I  wish  you'd  come  and  help  me.  The  fish  won't 
bite  and  my  line  is  in  a  grievous  snarl.  Don't  read  any 
more.  I'm  tired  of  playing  all  alone." 

"I  forgot  you,  Ruthy,  and  it  was  ill  done  of  me. 
Sit  here  and  rest  while  I  undo  the  tangle,"  and  Nat 
looked  up  good-naturedly  at  the  small  figure  before 
him,  with  its  quaint  pinafore,  checked  linen  gown,  and 
buckled  shoes ;  for  this  little  maid  lived  nearly  a  hun- 


150  BY   THE  RIVER. 

dred  years  ago  and  this  lad  had  seen  Washington  face 
to  face. 

"  Now  tell  me  a  story  while  I  wait.  Not  out  of  that 
stupid  play-book  you  are  always  reading,  but  about 
something  that  really  happened,  with  naughty  children 
and  nice  folks  in  it,  and  have  it  end  good,"  said  Ruth, 
beginning  a  dandelion  chain ;  for  surely  it  is  safe  to 
believe  that  our  honored  grandmothers  enjoyed  that 
pretty  pastime  in  their  childhood. 

Nat  lay  in  the  grass,  dreamily  regarding  the  small 
personage  who  ruled  him  like  a  queen  and  whom  he 
served  with  the  devotion  of  a  loyal  heart.  Now  the 
royal  command  was  for  a  story,  and,  stifling  a  sigh,  this 
rustic  gentleman  closed  the  book,  whose  magic  had 
changed  the  spring  morning  to  a  Midsummer  Night's 
Dream  for  an  hour,  and  set  himself  to  gratify  the  little 
damsel's  whim. 

"  You  liked  the  last  tale  about  the  children  who  were 
lost.  Shall  I  tell  one  about  a  child  who  was  found  ? 
It  really  happened,  and  you  never  heard  it  before,"  he 
asked. 

"  Yes ;  but  first  put  your  head  in  my  lap,  for  there 
are  ants  in  the  grass  and  I  like  to  see  your  eyes  shine 
when  you  spin  stories.  Tell  away." 

"  Once  upon  a  time  there  was  a  great  snow-storm," 
began  Nat,  obediently  pillowing  his  head  on  the  blue 
pinafore. 

"  Whereabouts  ?  "  demanded  Ruth. 

"Don't  spoil  the  story  by  interrupting.  It  was  in 
this  town,  and  I  can  show  you  the  very  house  I'm  going 
to  tell  about." 

"  I  like  to  know  things  straight  along,  and  not  bounce 


BY  THE   RIVER.  151 

into  a  snow-storm  all  in  a  minute.  I'll  be  good.  Go 
on." 

"Well,  it.  snowed  so  hard  that  people  stayed  indoors 
till  the  storm  had  beat  and  blown  itself  away.  Right 
in  the  worst  of  it,  as  a  farmer  and  his  wife  sat  by  the 
fire  that  night,  they  heard  a  cry  at  the  door.  You  see 
they  were  sitting  very  still,  the  man  smoking  his  pipe 
and  the  woman  knitting,  both  thinking  sorrowfully  of 
their  only  son,  who  had  just  died." 

"  Don't  have  it  doleful,  Nat,"  briskly  suggested  Ruth, 
working  busily  while  the  narrator's  hands  lay  idle,  and 
his  eyes  looked  as  if  they  actually  saw  the  little  scene 
his  fancy  conjured  up. 

"  No,  I  won't ;  only  it  really  was  like  that,"  apolo 
gized  Nat,  seeing  that  sentiment  was  not  likely  to  suit 
his  matter-of-fact  auditor.  "  When  the  cry  came  a 
second  time,  both  of  these  people  ran  to  the  door.  No 
one  was  to  be  seen,  but  on  the  wide  step  they  saw  a 
little  mound  not  there  an  hour  before.  Brushing  off 
the  snow,  they  found  a  basket ;  and,  when  they  opened 
it,  there  lay  a  little  baby,  who  put  out  its  arms  with  a 
pitiful  cry,  that  went  to  their  hearts.  The  woman 
hugged  it  close,  fed  it,  and  hushed  it  to  sleep  as  if  it 
had  been  her  own.  Her  husband  let  her  do  as  she 
liked,  while  he  tried  to  find  where  it  came  from ;  but 
no  trace  appeared,  and  there  was  no  name  or  mark  on 
the  poor  thing's  clothes." 

"  Did  they  keep  it  ?  "  asked  Ruth,  tickling  Nat's  nose 
with  a  curly  dandelion  stem,  to  goad  him  on,  as  he  lay 
silent  for  a  moment. 

"  Yes,  they  kept  it ;  for  their  hearts  were  sore  and 
empty,  and  the  forlorn  baby  seemed  to  fill  them  com-. 


Io2  BY   THE   RIVEK. 

fortably.  The  townsfolk  gossiped  awhile,  but  soon  for- 
got  it ;  and  it  grew  up  as  if  it  had  been  born  in  the 
farmer's  house.  I've  often  wondered  if  it  wasn't  the 
soul  of  the  little  son  who  died,  come  back  in  another 
shape  to  comfort  those  good  people." 

"  Now  don't  go  wandering  off,  Nat ;  but  tell  me  if  he 
was  a  pretty,  nice,  smart  child,"  said  Ruth,  with  an  eye 
to  the  hero's  future  capabilities. 

"  Not  a  bit  pretty,"  laughed  Nat,  "  for  he  grew  up 
tall  and  thin,  with  big  eyes  and  a  queer  brow.  He 
wasn't  'nice,'  either,  if  you  mean  good,  for  he  got 
angry  sometimes  and  was  lazy ;  but  he  tried,  —  oh ! 
yes,  he  truly  tried  to  be  a  dutiful  lad.  He  wasn't 
4  smart,'  Ruth ;  for  he  hated  to  study,  and  only  loved 
story  books,  ballads,  and  plays,  and  liked  to  wander 
round  alone  'in  the  woods  better  than  to  be  with  other 
boys.  People  laughed  at  him  because  of  his  queersome 
ways ;  but  he  couldn't  help  it,  —  he  was  born  so,  and  it 
would  come  out." 

"  He  was  what  Aunt  Becky  calls  shiftless,  I  guess. 
She  says  you  are  ;  but  I  don't  mind  as  long  as  you  take 
care  of  me  and  tell  me  stories." 

The  boy  sighed  and  shook  his  head  as  if  a  whole 
swarm  of  gnats  were  annoying  him  now.  "  He  was 
grateful,  anyhow,  this  fellow  I'm  telling  about ;  for  he 
loved  the  good  folks  and  worked  on  the  farm  with  all 
his  might  to  pay  them  for  their  pity.  He  never  com 
plained;  but  he  hated  it,  for  delving  day  after  day  in 
the  dirt  made  him  feel  as  if  he  was  nothing  but  a 
worm." 

"We  are  all  worms,"  Deacon  Hurd  says;  "so  the 
( boy  needn't  have  minded,"  said  Ruth,  trying  to  assume 


BY  THE   RIVER.  153 

a  primly  pious  expression,  that  sat  very  ill  upon  her 
blooming  little  face. 

"  But  some  worms  can  turn  into  butterflies,  if  they 
get  a  chance ;  so  the  boy  did  mind,  Ruthy."  And  Nat 
looked  out  into  the  summer  world  with  a  longing 
glance,  which  proved  that  he  already  felt  conscious  of 
the  folded  wings  and  was  eager  to  try  them. 

"Was  he  a  God-fearing  boy?"  asked  Ruth,  with  a 
tweak  of  the  ear ;  for  her  friend  showed  signs  of  "  wan 
dering  off "  again  into  a  world  where  her  prosaic  little 
mind  could  not  follow  him. 

"He  didn't  fear  God;  he  loved  Him.  Perhaps  it 
was  wrong ;  but  somehow  he  couldn't  believe  in  a  God 
of  wrath  when  he  saw  how  good  and  beautiful  thev 
world  was  and  how  kind  folks  were  to  him.  He  felt  as 
if  the  Lord  was  his  father,  for  he  had  no  other;  and. 
when  he  was  lonesomest  that  thought  was  right 
fortable  and  helpful  to  him.  Was  it  wrong?" 
Nat  of  the  child. 

"I'm  afraid  Aunt  Becky  would  think  so.  She's 
awful  pious,  and  boxed  my  ears  with  a  psalm-book  last 
Sabbath,  when  I  said  I  wished  the  lions  would  bite 
Daniel  in  the  den,  I  was  so  tired  of  seeing  them  stare 
and  roar  at  him.  She  wouldn't  let  me  look  at  the 
pictures  in  the  big  Bible  another  minute,  and  gave  me 
a  long  hymn  to  learn,  shut  up  in  the  back  bedroom. 
She's  a  godly  woman,  Deacon  Hurd  says;  but  I  think 
she's  uncommon  strict." 

"  Shall  I  tell  any  more,  or  are  you  tired  of  this  stupid 
boy  ?  "  said  Nat,  modestly. 

"Yes,  you  may  as  well  finish.  But  do  have  some 
thing  happen.  Make  him  grow  a  great  man,  like  Whit- 


154  BY   THE   RIVER. 

tington,  or  some  of  the  story-book  folks,  it's  so  nice  to 
read  about,"  answered  Ruth,  rather  impatiently. 

"  I  hope  he  did  something  better  than  trade  cats  and 
be  lord  mayor  of  London.  But  that  part  of  the  story 
hasn't  come  yet;  so  I'll  tell  you  of  two  things  that 
happened,  one  sad  and  one  merry.  When  the  boy 
was  fourteen,  the  good  woman  died,  and  that  nearly 
broke  his  heart ;  for  she  had  made  things  easy  for  him, 
and  he  loved  her  dearly.  The  farmer  sent  for  his  sister 
to  keep  house,  and  then  the  boy  found  it  harder  than 
ever  to  bear  his  life;  for  the  sister  was  a  notable 
woman,  well-meaning,  but  as  strict  as  Aunt  Becky,  and 
she  pestered  the  lad  as  Aunt  pesters  me.  You  see, 
r  Ruthy,  it  grew  harder  every  year  for  him  to  work  on 
Athe  farm,  for  he  longed  to  be  away  somewhere  quiet 
among  books  and  learned  folk.  He  was  not  like  those 
about  him,  and  grew  more  unlike  all  the  time,  and  people 
often  said  :  '  He's  come  of  gentle  blood.  That's  plain 
to  see.'  He  loved  to  think  it  was  true,  —  not  because 
he  wanted  to  be  rich  and  fine,  but  to  find  his  own  place 
and  live  the  life  the  Lord  meant  him  to.  This  feeling 
made  him  so  unhappy  that  he  was  often  tempted  to 
run  away,  and  would  have  done  it  but  for  the  gratitude 
that  kepthim.  > 

""^Lack^a^aTsy !  What  a  bad  boy,  when  he  had  good 
clothes  and  victuals  and  folks  were  cleve,r  to  him !  But 
did  he  ever  find  his  grand  relations?"  asked  Ruth, 
curiosity  getting  the  better  of  the  reproof  she  thought 
it  her  duty  to  administer. 

"  I  don't  know  yet.  But  he  did  find  something  that 
made  him  happier  and  more  contented.  Listen  now ; 
for  you'll  like  this  part,  I  know.  One  night,  as  he  came 


BY  THE  RIVER.  155 

home  with  the  cows,  watching  the  pretty  red  in  the 
sky,  hearing  the  crickets  chirp,  and  picking  flowers 
along  the  way,  because  he  liked  to  have  'em  in  his 
room,  he  felt  uncommon  lonesome,  and  kept  wishing 
he'd  meet  a  fairy  who'd  give  him  all  he  wanted.  When 
he  got  to  the  house,  he  thought  the  fairy  had  really 
come ;  for  there  on  the  door-stone  stood  a  little  lass, 
looking  at  him.  A  right  splendid  little  lass,  Ruth, 
with  brown  hair  long  upon  her  shoulders,  blue  eyes  full 
of  smiles,  and  a  face  like  one  of  the  pink  roses  in 
Madam  Barrett's  garden." 

"Did  she  have  good  clothes?"  demanded  Ruth, 
eagerly,  for  this  part  of  the  tale  did  interest  her,  as  Nat 
foretold. 

"  Let  me  see.  Yes,  nice  clothes ;  but  sad-colored, 
for  the  riding-cloak  that  hung  over  her  white  dimity 
frock  was  black.  Yet  she  stood  on  a  pair  of  the 
trimmest  feet  ever  seen,  wearing  hose  with  fine  clocks, 
and  silver  buckles  in  the  little  shoes.  You  may  believe 
the  boy  stared  well,  for  he  had  never  seen  so  pretty  a 
sight  in  all  his  days,  and  before  he  knew  it  he  had  given 
her  his  nosegay  of  sheepsbane,  fern,  and  honeysuckle. 
She  took  it,  looking  pleased,  and  made  him  as  fine  a 
courtesy  as  any  lady ;  whereat  he  turned  red  and 
foolish,  being  shy,  and  hurried  off  into  the  barn.  But 
she  came  skipping  after,  and  peeped  at  him  as  he 
milked,  watched  how  he  did  it  for  a  bit,  and  then  said, 
like  a  little  queen,  '  Boy,  get  up  and  let  me  try/  That 
pleased  him  mightily ;  so,  taking  little  madam  on  his 
knee,  he  let  her  try.  But  something  went  amiss,  for 
all  at  once  Brindle  kicked  over  the  pail,  away  went 
the  three-legged  stool,  and  both  the  milkers  lay  in  the 
dirt." 


156  BY   TEE  RIVER. 

"Why,  Nat!  why,  Nat!  that  was  you  and  I,"  cned 
Ruth,  clapping  her  hands  delightedly,  as  this  catastro 
phe  confirmed  the  suspicions  which  had  been  growing 
in  her  mind  since  the  appearance  of  the  child. 

"Hush!  or  I'll  never  tell  how  they  got  up,"  said 
Nat,  hurrying  on  with  a  mirthful  face.  "The  boy 
thought  the  little  maid  would  cry  over  her  bruised  arm 
or  go  off  in  a  pet  at  sight  of  the  spoilt  frock.  But  no : 
she  only  laughed,  patted  old  Brindle,  and  sat  down, 
saying  stoutly,  '  I  shall  try  again  and  do  it  right.'  So 
she  did,  and  while  she  milked  she  told  how  she  was  an 
orphan  and  had  come  to  be  Uncle  Dan's  girl  all  her 
life.  That  was  a  pleasant  hearing  for  the  lad,  and  he 
felt  as  if  the  fairy  had  done  better  by  him  than  he  had 
hoped.  They  were  friends  at  once,  and  played  cat's 
.cradle  on  the  kitchen  settle  all  the  evening.  But,  when 
the  child  was  put  to  bed  in  a  strange  room,  her  little 
heart  failed  her,  and  she  fell  a-sobbing  for  her  mother. 
Nothing  would  comfort  her  till  the  boy  went  up  and 
sang  her  to  sleep,  with  her  pretty  hand  in  his  and  all 
her  tears  quite  gone.  That  was  nigh  upon  two  years 
ago;  but  from  that  night  they  were  fast  friends,  and 
happier  times  began  for  the  boy,  because  he  had  some 
thing  to  love  and  live  for  besides  work.  She  was  very 
good  to  him,  and  nowhere  in  all  the  world  was  there  a 
dearer,  sweeter  lass  than  Nat  Snow's  little  maid." 

During  the  latter  part  of  this  tale  "founded  upon 
fact,"  Ruth  had  been  hugging  her  playmate's  head  in 
both  her  chubby  arms,  and  when  he  ended  by  drawing 
down  the  rosy  face  to  kiss  it  softly  on  the  lips  it  grew 
a  very  April  countenance,  as  she  exclaimed,  with  a 
childish  burst  of  affection,  curiosity,  and  wonder,  — 


BY  THE  RIVER.  157 

"Dear  Nat,  how  good  you  were  to  me  that  night  ana 
ever  since !  Did  you  really  come  in  a  basket,  and  don't 
you  know  any  thing  about  your  folks?  Good  lack! 
And  to  think  you  may  turn  out  a  lord's  son,  after  all!  " 

"  How  could  I  help  being  good  to  you,  dear  ?  Yes, 
Til  show  you  the  very  basket,  if  Aunt  Becky  has  not 
burnt  it  up  as  rubbish.  I  know  nought  about  my  folk, 
and  have  no  name  but  Snow.  Uncle  Dan  gave  me 
that  because  I  came  in  the  storm,  and  the  dear  mother 
added  Nathaniel,  her  own  boy's  name,  since  I  was  sent 
to  take  his  place,  she  said.  As  for  being  a  lord's  son, 
I'd  rather  be  a  greater  man  than  that." 

And  Nat  rose  up  with  sudden  energy  in  his  voice, 
a  sudden  kindling  of  the  eyes,  that  pleased  Ruth,  and 
made  her  ask,  with  firm  faith  in  the  possibility  of  his 
being  any  thing  he  chose,  — 

"  You  mean  a  king  ?  " 

"  No,  a  poet ! " 

"  But  that's  not  fine  at  all ! "  and  Ruth  looked  much 
disappointed. 

"  It  is  the  grandest  thing  in  the  world !  Look  now, 
the  man  who  wrote  this  play  was  a  poet,  and,  though 
»ong  dead,  he  is  still  loved  and  honored,  when  the 
icings  and  queens  he  told  about  would  be  forgotten 
but  for  him.  Who  cares  for  them,  with  all  their 
splendor?  Who  does  not  worship  William  Shake 
speare,  wThose  genius  made  him  greater  than  the  whole 
of  them ! "  cried  Nat,  hugging  the  dingy  book,  his  face 
all  aglow  with  the  beautiful  enthusiasm  of  a  true 
believer. 

"  Was  Master  Shakespeare  rich  and  great  ?  n  asked 
Ruth,  staring  at  him  with  round  eyes. 


158  BY  THE  RIVER. 

"  Never  rich  or  great  in  the  way  you  mean,  or  even 
famous,  till  after  he  was  dead." 

"  Then  I'd  rather  have  you  like  Major  Wild,  for  he 
owns  much  land,  lives  in  a  grand  house,  and  wears  the 
finest-laced  coat  in  all  the  town.  Will  you  be  like  him, 
please,  Nat  ?  " 

"No,  I  won't!"  answered  the  lad, .with  emphatic 
brevity,  as  the  image  of  the  red-faced,  roystering 
Major  passed  before  his  mind's  eye. 

His  bluntness  ruffled  his  little  sovereign's  temper  for 
a  moment,  and  she  asked  with  a  frown,  — 

"  What  do  you  think  Aunt  Becky  said  yesterday, 
when  we  found  ever  so  many  of  your  verses  hidden  in 
the  clothes-press,  where  we  went  to  put  lavender  among 
the  linen?" 

a  Something  sharp,  and  burnt  the  papers,  I'll  war 
rant,"  replied  Nat,  with  the  resignation  of  one  used  to 
such  trials. 

"No,  she  kept  'em  to  cover  jam-pots  with,  and  she 
said  you  were  either  a  fool  or  a  genus.  Is  a  genus  very 
bad,  Nat?"  added  Ruth,  relenting  as  she  saw  his 
dreamy  eyes  light  up  with  what  she  fancied  was  a 
spark  of  anger. 

"  Aunt  Becky  thinks  so ;  but  I  don't,  and,  though  I 
may  not  be  one,  sooner  or  later  folks  shall  see  that  I'm 
no  fool,  for  I  feel,  I  know,  I  was  not  born  to  hoe  corn 
and  feed  pigs  all  my  lite." 

"  What  will  you  do  ? "  cried  Ruth,  startled  by  the 
almost  passionate  energy  with  which  he  spoke. 

"  Till  I'm  twenty-one  I'll  stay  to  do  my  duty.  When 
the  time  comes,  I'll  break  away  and  try  my  own  life, 
for  I  shall  have  a  right  to  do  it  then." 


BY  THE  RIVER. 

"And  leave  me?  Nay,  I'll  not  let  you  go."  And 
Ruth  threw  her  dandelion  chain  about  his  neck,  claim 
ing  her  bondsman  with  the  childish  tyranny  he  found 
BO  sweet. 

He  laughed  and  let  her  hold  him,  seeing  how  frail 
the  green  links  were  ;  little  dreaming  how  true  a  symbol 
it  was  of  the  stronger  tie  by  which  she  would  hold  him 
when  the  time  came  to  choose  between  liberty  and 
love. 

-'Five  years  is  a  long  time,  Ruthy.  You  will  get 
tired  of  my  odd  ways,  and  be  glad  to  have  me  go. 
But  never  fret  about  it ;  for,  whatever  happens,  I'll  not 
forget  you." 

Quite  satisfied  with  this  promise,  the  little  maid  fell 
to  sticking  buttercups  in  the  band  of  the  straw  hat  her 
own  nimble  fingers  had  braided,  as  if  bent  on  securing 
one  crown  for  her  friend.  But  Nat,  leaning  his  head 
upon  his  hand,  sat  watching  the  sunshine  glitter  on  the 
placid  stream  that  rippled  at  his  feet,  with  such  intent- 
ness  that  Ruth  presently  disturbed  him  by  demanding 
curiously,  — 

"  What  is  it  ?     A  kingfisher  or  a  turtle  ?  " 

"  It's  the  river,  dear.  It  seems  to  sing  to  me  as  it 
goes  by.  I  always  hear  it,  yet  I  never  understand  "what 
it  says.  Do  you  ?  " 

Ruth  fixed  her  blue  eyes  on  the  bluer  water,  listened 
for  an  instant,  then  laughed  out  blithely,  and  sprung 
up,  saying,  — 

"  It  sings :    '  Come  and  fish,  Nat.     Come  and  fish  ! ' " 

The  boy's  face  fell,  the  dreamy  look  faded,  and,  with 
a  patient  sort  of  sigh,  he  rose  and  followed  her,  leaving 
his  broken  dream  with  his  beloved  book  among  the 


100  BY   THE  RIVER. 

buttercups.  But,  though  he  sat  by  Ruth  in  the  shadow 
of  the  alder-bushes,  his  rod  hung  idly  from  his  hand, 
for  he  was  drawing  bright  fancies  from  a  stream  she 
never  saw,  was  dimly  feeling  that  he  had  a  harder  knot 
to  disentangle  than  his  little  friend's,  and  faintly  hear- 
:ng  a  higher  call  than  hers,  in  the  ripple  of  the  river 


CHAPTER  II. 

FIVE  years  later  Ruth  was  in  the  dairy  making  up 
butter,  surrounded  by  tier  above  tier  of  shining  pans, 
whence  proceeded  a  breath  as  fresh  and  fragrant  as  if 
the  ghosts  of  departed  king-cups  and  clover  still 
haunted  the  spot.  Standing  before  a  window  where 
morning-glories  rung  their  colored  bells  in  the  balmy 
air,  she  was  as  pleasant  a  sight  as  any  eye  need  wish  to 
see  upon  a  summer's  day;  for  the  merry  child  had 
bloomed  into  a  sprightly  girl,  rich  in  rustic  health  and 
beauty.  All  practical  virtues  were  hers;  and,  while 
they  wore  so  comely  a  shape,  they  possessed  a  grace 
that  hid  the  lack  of  those  finer  attributes  which  give 
to  womanhood  its  highest  charm.  The  present  was 
all  in  all  to  Ruth.  Its  homely  duties  were  her  world, 
its  petty  griefs  and  joys  her  life,  and  her  ambition  was 
bounded  by  her  desire  to  show  her  mates  the  finest 
yarn,  the  sweetest  butter,  the  gayest  cardinal,  and  the 
handsomest  sweetheart,  in  the  town.  An  essentially 
domestic  character,  cheery  as  the  blaze  upon  the  hearth, 
contented  as  the  little  kettle  singing  there,  and  so  affeo 


EY   TEE  RIVER.  1(51 

tionate,  discreet,  and  diligent  that  she  was  the  model 
damsel  of  the  town,  the  comfort  of  Uncle  Daniel's  age, 
the  pride  of  Aunt  Becky's  heart,  the  joy  of  Nat's  life, 
and  the  desire  of  his  eyes. 

Unlike  as  ever,  the  pair  were  still  fast  friends.  Nay 
more,  for  the  past  year  had  been  imperceptibly  trans 
forming  that  mild  sentiment  into  a  much  warmer  one 
by  the  magic  of  beauty,  youth,  and  time.  Year  after 
year  Nat  had  patiently  toiled  on,  for  gratitude  con 
trolled  ambition,  and  Ruth's  presence  made  his  life 
endurable.  But  Nature  was  stronger  than  duty  or  love, 
and  as  the  boy  ripened  into  the  man  he  looked  wistfully 
beyond  the  narrow  present  into  the  great  future,  which 
allures  such  as  he  with  vague,  sweet  prophecies,  hard  to 
be  resisted.  Silently  the  struggle  went  on,  steadily  the 
inborn  longing  strengthened,  and  slowly  the  resolution 
was  fixed  to  put  his  one  gift  to  the  test  and  learn  if  it 
was  a  vain  delusion  or  a  lovely  possibility.  Each  year 
proved  to  himself  and  those  about  him  that  their  world 
was  not  his  world,  their  life  his  life ;  for,  like  Andersen's 
young  swan,  the  barnyard  was  no  home  to  him,  and 
when  the  other  fowls  cackled,  hissed,  and  scolded,  he 
could  only  put  his  head  under  his  wing  and  sigh  for  the 
time  when  he  should  join  "  the  beautiful  white  birds 
among  the  rushes  of  the  stream  that  flowed  through 
the  poet's  garden,  where  the  sun  shone  and  the  little 
children  played." 

Ruth  knew  his  dreams  and  desires ;  but,  as  she  could 
not  understand  them,  she  tried  to  cure  them  by  every 
innocent  art  in  her  power,  and  nursed  him  through 
many  a  fit  of  the  heart-sickness  of  hope  deferred  as 
patiently  as  she  would  have  done  through  any  less 

11 


BY  THE  RIVER. 

occult  disease  that  flesh  is  heir  to.  She  was  thinking 
of  him  as  she  worked  that  day,  and  wishing  she  could 
mould  his  life  as  easily  as  she  did  the  yellow  lumps  before 
her,  stamping  them  with  her  own  mark,  and  setting 
them  away  for  her  own  use.  She  felt  that  some  change 
was  about  to  befall  Nat,  for  she  had  listened  to  the  mur 
mur  of  voices  as  the  old  man  and  the  young  sat  talking 
far  into  the  night.  What  tl  e  result  had  been  was  as 
yet  unknown ;  for  Uncle  Daniel  was  unusually  taciturn 
that  morning,  and  Nat  had  been  shut  up  in  his  room 
since  breakfast,  though  spring  work  waited  for  him  all 
about  the  farm. 

An  unwonted  sobriety  sat  on  Ruth's  usually  cheer 
ful  face,  and  she  was  not  singing  as  she  worked,  but 
listening  intently  for  a  well-known  step  to  descend  the 
creaking  stairs.  Presently  it  came,  paused  a  moment 
in  the  big  kitchen,  where  Aunt  Becky  was  flying  about 
like  a  domestic  whirlwind,  and  Ruth  heard  Nat  ask  for 
her  with  a  ring  in  his  voice  that  made  her  heart  begin 
to  flutter. 

"  She's  in  the  dairy.  But  for  landsake  where  are  you 
a-going,  boy?  I  declare  for't,  you  look  so  fine  and 
chirk  I  scursely  knew  yer,"  answered  the  old  lady, 
pausing  in  her  work  to  stare  at  the  astonishing  spectacle 
of  Nat  in  his  Sunday  best  upon  a  week  day. 

"I'm  going  to  seek  my  fortune,  Aunty.  Won't  you 
wish  me  luck?"  replied  Nat,  cheerily. 

Aunt  Becky  had  a  proverb  for  every  occasion,  and 
could  not  lose  this  opportunity  for  enriching  the  mal 
content  with  a  few  suited  to  his  case. 

"  Yes,  child,  the  best  of  lucks ;  but  it's  my  opinion 
that,  if  we  'get  spindle  and  distaff  ready,  the  Lord  will 


BY   THE  RIVER.  163 

send  the  flax,'  without  our  goin'  to  look  for't.  (  Every 
road  has  its  puddle,'  and  'he  that  prieth  into  a  cloud 
may  get  struck  by  HghteninV  God  bless  you,  my  dear, 
and  remember  that  4  a  handful  of  good  life  is  wuth  a 
bushel  of  learnin'.'  " 

"  I  will,  Ma'am ;  and  also  bear  in  mind  that  '  he  who 
ivauld  have  eggs  must  bear  the  cackling  of  hens,'"  with 
which  return  shot  Nat  vanished,  leaving  the  old  lady 
to  expend  her  energies  and  proverbs  upon  the  bread 
she  was  kneading  with  a  vigor  that  set  the  trough  rock 
ing  like  a  cradle. 

C? 

Why  Ruth  began  to  sing  just  then,  and  why  she 
became  so  absorbed  in  her  oleaginous  sculpture  as  to 
seem  entirely  unconscious  of  the  appearance  of  a  young 
man  at  the  dairy  door,  are  questions  which  every  woman 
\will  find  no  difficulty  in  answering.  ^Actuated  by  one 
ol'the  whims  which  often  Yule  tne  simplest  of  the  sex, 
she  worked  and  sang  as  if  no  anxiety  had  ruffled  her 
quiet  heart ;  while  Nat  stood  and  watched  her  with  an 
expression  which  would  have  silenced  her,  had  she 
chosen  to  look  up  and  meet  it.  / 

The  years  that  had   done  much  for  Ruth  had  been  . 
equally  kind  to  Nat,  in  giving  him  a  generous  growth    > 
for  the  figure  leaning  in  the  doorway  seemed  full  of 
the  vigor  of  wholesome  country  life.     But  the  head  that/ 
crowned  it  was  such  as  one  seldom  sees  on  a  farmer's  ' 
shoulders;  for  the  brown  locks,  gathered  back  into  a 
ribbon,  after  the  fashion  of  the  time,  showed  a  forehead 
of  harmonious   outline,  overarching   eyes   full   of  the 
pathos  and  the  passion  that  betray  the  presence  of  that 
gift  which  is  divine  when  young.     The  mouth  was  sensi 
tive  as  any  woman's,  and  the  lips  were  often  folded 


164  BY   THE  RIVER. 

close,  as  if  pride  controlled  the  varying  emotions  tha, 
swayed  a  nature  ardent  and  aspiring  as  a  flame  of  lire. 
Few  could  read  the  language  of  this  face,  yet  many  felt 
the  beauty  that  it  owed  to  a  finer  source  than  any  grace 
of  shape  or  color,  and  wondered  where  the  subtle  secret 
lay. 

"Ruth,  may  I  tell  you  something?" 

"  Of  course  you  may.  Only  don't  upset  the  salt-box 
or  sit  down  upon  the  churn." 

Nat  did  neither,  but  still  leaned  in  the  doorway  and 
still  watched  the  trim  figure  before  him,  as  if  it  was 
very  pleasant  to  his  eyes;  while  Ruth,  after  a  brief 
glance  over  her  shoulder,  a  nod  and  a  smile,  spatted 
away  as  busily  as  ever. 

"You  know  I  was  one-and-twenty  yesterday?" 

"  I'm  not  like  to  forget  it,  after  sewing  my  eyes  out 
to  work  a  smart  waistcoat  as  a  keepsake." 

uNor  I;  for  there's  not  such  another  in  the  town, 
and  every  rosebud  is  as  perfect  as  if  just  pulled  from 
our  bush  yonder.  See,  I've  put  it  on  as  knights  put  on 
their  armor  when  they  went  to  fight  for  fortune  and 
their  ladies'  love." 

As  he  spoke,  Nat  smilingly  thrust  his  hands  into  the 
pockets  of  a  long-flapped  garment,  which  was  a  master 
piece  of  the  needlework  in  vogue  a  century  ago.  Ruth 
glanced  up  at  him  with  eyes  full  of  hearty  admiration  for 
the  waistcoat  and  its  wearer.  But  something  in  those 
last  words  of  his  filled  her  with  a  trouble  both  sweet 
and  bitter,  as  she  asked  anxiously, — 

"  Are  you  going  away,  Nat  ?  " 

"  For  a  week  only.  Uncle  has  been  very  kind,  and 
given  me  a  chance  to  prove  which  road  it's  best  for  me 


BY  THE  RIVER.  165 

to  take,  since  the  time  has  come  when  I  must  choose. 
I  ride  to  Boston  this  afternoon,  Ruth,  carrying  my 
poems  with  me,  that  I  may  submit  them  to  the  criticism 
of  certain  learned  gentlemen,  who  can  tell  me  if  I  de 
ceive  myself  or  not.  I  have  agreed  to  abide  by  their  de 
cision,  and  if  it  is  in  my  favor  Aas  God  grant  it  be  — • 
Uncle  leaves  me  free  to  live  the  life  I  love,  among  my 
ygbooksjind  all  that  makes  this  world  glorious^/sJT h i nk, 
Ruth,  —  a  poet  in  good  truth,  to  sing  when  I  will,  and 
delve  no  more !  Will  you  be  pleased  and  proud  if  I 
come  back  and  tell  you  this  ? " 

"  Indeed,  I  will,  if  it  makes  you  happy.  And  yet "  — 
She  paused  there,  looking  wistfully  into  his  face,  now  all 
aglow  with  the  hope  and  faith  that  are  so  blissful  and 
so  brief. 

"What  is  it,  lass?  Speak  out  and  tell  me  all  that  s 
in  your  heart,  for  I  mean  to  show  you  mine,"  he  said  in 
a  commanding  tone  seldom  heard  before,  for  he  seemed 
already  to  have  claimed  the  fair  inheritance  that  makes 
the  poet  the  equal  of  the  prince. 

Ruth  felt  the  change  with  a  thrill  of  pride,  yet  dared 
suggest  the  possibility  of  failure,  as  a  finer  nature  would 
have  shrunk  from  doing  in  such  a  happy,  hopeful  hoi 
as  that. 

"  If  the  learned  gentlemen  decide  that  the  poems 
have  no  worth,  what  then  ?" 

He  looked  at  her  an  instant,  like  one  fallen  from  the 

clouds,  then  squared  his  shoulders,  as  if  resettling  the 

burden  put  off  for  a  day,  and  answered  bravely,  though 

A  a  sudden  shadow  crossed  his  face,  A  *  A.  VV  yVVV/VVi, 

£_Lt-  "~  —rw-  "~       "        "    "'       "  '' 

"  Then  I  give  up  my  dream  and  fall  to  work  again,  — 
no  poet,  but  a  man,  who  will  do  his  best  to  be  an  honest 


166  BY  THE   RIVER. 

one.  I  have  promised  Uncle  to  abide  by  this  decision, 
and  I'll  keep  my  word." 

"  Will  it  be  very  hard,  Nat  ?  "  and  Ruth's  eyes  grew 
pitiful,  for  in  his  she  read  how  much  the  sacrifice  would 
cost  him. 

"  Ay,  lass,  very  hard,"  he  said  briefly  ;  then  added, 
with  an  eloquent  change  in  voice  and  face,  "unless  you 
help  me  bear  it.  Sweetheart,  whichever  road  I  take,  I 
had  no  thought  to  go  alone.  Will  you  walk  with  me, 
Ruth  ?  God  knows  I'll  make  the  way  as  smooth  and 
pleasant  as  a  faithful  husband  can." 

The  busy  hands  stopped  working  there,  for  Nat  held 
them  fast  in  his,  and  all  her  downcast  eyes  could  see 
were  the  gay  flowers  her  needle  wrought,  agitated  by 
the  beating  of  the  man's  heart  underneath.  Her  color 
deepened  beautifully  and  her  lips  trembled,  in  spite  of 
the  arch  smile  they  wore,  as  she  said  half-tenderly, 


"  But  I  should  be  afeared  to  marry  a  poet,  if  they  are 
such  strange  and  delicate  creature£«as  I've  heard  tell. 
*T  would  be  like  keeping  house  for  a  butterfly.  I  tried 
to  cage  one  once  ;  but  the  poor  thing  spoilt  its  pretty 
wings  beating  against  the  bars,  and  when  I  let  it  go  it 
just  dropped  down  and  died  among  the  roses  there." 

"  But  if  I  be  no  poet,  only  a  plain  farmer,  with  no 
ambition  except  how  I  may  prosper  and  make  my  wife 
a  happy  woman,  what  answer  then,  Ruth  ?  "  he  asked, 
feeling  as  the  morning-glories  might  have  felt  if  a  cold 
wind  had  blown  over  them. 

"  Dear  lad,  it's  this  !"  and,  throwing  both  arms  about 
his  neck,  the  honest  little  creature  kissed  his  brown 
ulu  ek  heartily, 


BY  THE  RIVER.  167 

After  that  no  wonder  if  Ruth  forgot  her  work,  never 
saw  an  audacious  sunbeam  withering  the  yellow  roses 
she  had  caused  to  bloom,  never  heard  the  buzz  of  an 
invading  fly,  nor  thought  to  praise  the  labor  of  her 
hands,  though  her  plump  cheek  was  taking  off  impres 
sions  of  the  buttons  on  the  noble  waistcoat.  While  to 
Nat  the  little  dairy  had  suddenly  become  a  Paradise, 
life  for  a  moment  was  all  poetry,  and  nothing  in  the 
wide  world  seemed  impossible. 

"  Ruth !  Ruth !  The  cat's  fell  into  the  pork-kag,  and 
my  hands  is  in  the  dough.  For  massy  sake,  run  down 
suller  and  fish  her  out ! " 

That  shrill  cry  from  Aunt  Becky  broke  the  spell,  dis 
solved  the  blissful  dream,  for,  true  to  her  instincts,  Ruth 
forgot  the  lover  in  the  housewife,  and  vanished,  leaving 
Nat  alone  with  his  love  —  and  the  butter-pats. 


CHAPTER  III. 

HE  rode  gallantly  away  to  Boston  that  afternoon, 
and  ten  days  later  came  riding  slowly  home  again,  with 
the  precious  manuscript  still  in  his  saddle-bag. 

"What  luck,  boy?"  asked  Uncle  Dan,  with  a  keen 
glance  from  under  his  shaggy  brows,  as  the  young  man 
came  into  the  big  kitchen,  where  they  all  sat  together 
when  the  day's  work  was  done. 

"  Pretty  much  what  you  foretold,  sir,"  answered  N  at, 
trying  to  smile  bravely  as  he  took  his  place  beside  Ruth 
on  the  settle,  where  she  sat  making  up  cherry-colored 
breast-knots  by  the  light  of  one  candle. 


BY  THE  RIVER. 

"  Fools  go  out  to  shear  and  come  home  shorn,"  mut 
tered  Aunt  Becky  from  the  chimney-corner,  where  she 
sat  reeling  yarn  and  brooding  over  some  delectable 
mess  that  simmered  on  the  coals. 

Nat  did  not  hear  the  flattering  remark ;  for  he  was 
fingering  a  little  packet  that  silently  told  the  story  of 
failure  in  its  dog-eared  leaves,  torn  wrappers,  and  care 
lessly  knotted  string. 

"  Yes,"  he  said  rapidly,  as  if  anxious  to  have  a  hard 
task  over,  "  I  showed  my  poems  to  sundry  gentlemen, 
as  I  proposed.  One  liked  them  much,  and  said  they 
showed  good  promise  of  better  things;  but  added  that 
it  was  no  time  for  such  matters  now,  and  advised  me  to 
lay  them  by  till  I  was  older.  A  very  courteous  and 
friendly  man  this  was,  and  I  felt  much  beholden  to  him 
for  his  gracious  speeches.  The  second  criticized  my 
work  sharply,  and  showed  me  how  I  should  mend  it. 
But,  when  he  was  done,  I  found  all  the  poetry  had  gone 
out  of  my  poor  lines,  and  nothing  was  left  but  fine 
words ;  so  I  thanked  him  and  went  away,  thinking 
better  of  my  poems  than  when  I  entered.  The  third 
wise  man  gave  me  his  opinion  very  briefly,  saying,  as 
lie  handed  back  the  book,  'Put  it  in  the  fire. ": 

"  Nay !  but  that  was  too  harsh.  They  are  very  pretty 
verses,  Nat,  though  most  of  them  are  far  beyond  my 
poor  wits,"  said  Ruth,  trying  to  lighten  the  disappoint 
ment  that  she  saw  weighed  heavily  on  her  lover's  spirit. 

"  In  the  good  gentleman's  study,  I  had  a  sight  of 
some  of  the  great  poets  of  the  world,  and  while  lie 
read  my  verses  I  got  a  taste  of  Milton,  Spenser,  and 
my  own  Shakespeare's  noble  sonnets.  I  saw  what  mine 
lacked ;  yet  some  of  them  rang  true,  so  I  took  heart 


BY  THE  E1VEE.  169 

and  trimmed  them  up  in  the  fashion  my  masters  set 
me.  Let  me  read  you  one  or  two,  Ruth,  while  you  tie 
your  true  lover's  knots." 

And,  eagerly  opening  the  beloved  book,  Nat  began 
to  read  by  the  dim  light  of  the  tallow  candle,  blind  to 
the  resigned  expression  Ruth's  face  assumed,  deaf  to 
Aunt  Becky's  muttered  opinion  that  "an  idle  brain 
is  the  devil's  workshop,"  and  quite  unconscious  that 
Uncle  Dan  spread  a  checked  handkerchief  over  his  bald 
pate,  ready  for  a  nap.  Absorbed  in  his  delightful  task, 
the  young  poet  went  on  reading  his  most  perfect  lines, 
with  a  face  that  brightened  blissfully,  till,  just  as  he 
was  giving  a  love-lay  in  his  tenderest  tone,  a  mild  snore 
checked  his  heavenward  flight,  and  brought  him  back 
to  earth  with  a  rude  shock.  He  started,  paused,  and 
looked  about  him,  like  one  suddenly  wakened  from  a 
happy  dream.  Uncle  Dan  was  sound  asleep,  Aunt 
Becky  busily  counting  her  tidy  skeins,  and  Ruth,  making 
a  mirror  of  one  of  the  well-scoured  pewter  platters  on 
the  dresser,  was  so  absorbed  in  studying  the  effect  of 
the  gay  breast-knots  that  she  innocently  betrayed  her 
inattention  by  exclaiming,  with  a  pretty  air  of  re 
gret,  — 

«  And  that's  the  end  ?  " 

"  That  is  the  end,"  he  answered,  gently  closing  the 
book  which  no  one  cared  to  hear,  and,  hiding  his  re 
proachful  eyes  behind  his  hand,  he  sat  silent,  till  Uncle 
Dan,  roused  by  the  cessation  of  the  melodious  murmur 
that  had  soothed  his  ear,  demanded  with  kindly  blunt- 
DGSS,  — 

"  Well,  boy,  which  is  it  to  be,  moonshine  or  money  ? 
1  want  you  to  be  spry  about  decidin',  for  things  is 


ITO  BY  THE   EIVER. 

gittin'  behindhand,  and  I  cattle'ate  to  hire  if  you  mean 
to  quit  work." 

"  Sakes  alive  !  No  man  in  his  senses  would  set  long 
on  the  fence  when  there's  a  good  farm  and  a  smart  wife 
a-waitin  on  one  side  and  nothin'  but  poetry  and  star 
vation  on  the  other!"  ejaculated  Aunt  Becky,  briskly 
clattering  the  saucepan-lid,  as  if  to  add  the  savory 
temptations  of  the  flesh  to  those  of  filthy  lucre. 

Ruth  said  nothing,  but  looked  up  at  Nat  with  the  one 
poetic  sentiment  of  her  nature  shining  in  her  eyes  and 
touching  her  with  its  tender  magic,  till  it  seemed  an 
easy  thing  to  give  up  liberty  for  love. yThe  dandelion 
chain  the  child  wove  round  the  boy  had  changed  to  a 
flowery  garland  now,  but  the  man  never  saw  the  thorns 
among  the  roses,  and  let  the  woman  fetter  him  again  ; 
for,  as  he  looked  at  her,  Nat  flung  the  cherished  book 
into  the  flre  with  one  hand,  and  with  the  other  took 
possession  of  the  only  bribe  that  could  win  him  from 
that  other  love. 

"  I  decide  as  you  would  have  me,  sir.  Not  for  the 
sake  of  the  farm  you  promise  me,  but  for  love  of  her 
who  shall  one  day  be  its  happy  mistress,  please  God." 

''Now  that's  sensible  and  hearty,  and  I'm  waal 
pleased,  my  boy.  You  jest  buckle  to  for  a  year  stiddy 
and  let  your  ink-horn  dry,  and  wTe'll  have  as  harnsome 
a  weddin'  as  man  could  wish,  —  always  providin'  Ruth 
don't  change  her  mind,"  said  Uncle  Dan,  beaming  be- 
nignantly  at  the  young  pair  through  a  cloud  of  tobacco 
smoke  ;  while  Aunt  Becky  poked  the  condemned  manu 
script  deeper  into  the  coals,  as  if  anxious  to  exorcise 
its  witchcraft  by  fire,  in  the  good  old  fashion. 

But  even  in  Ruth's  arms  Nat  cast  one  longing,  loving 


BY  THE   RIVER.  171 

glance  at  his  first-born  darling  on  its  funeral-pyre;  then 
turned  his  head  resolutely  away,  and  whispered  to  the 
girl,  — 

"  Never  doubt  that  I  love  you,  sweetheart,  since  for 
your  sake  I  have  given  up  the  ambition  of  my  life.  1 
don't  regret  it,  but  be  patient  with  me  till  I  learn  to  live, 
without  my  '  moonshine,'  as  you  call  it." 

"  Sunshine  is  better,  and  I'll  make  it  for  you,  if  I  can. 
So  cheer  up,  dear  lad,  fall  to  work  like  a  man,  and  you'll 
soon  forget  your  pretty  nonsense,"  answered  Ruth,  with 
firm  faith  in  the  cure  she  proposed. 

"  I'll  try." 

/  And,  folding  his  wings,  Pegasus  bent  his  neck  to  the^ 
/{yoke  and_fell  to  ploughing.  \ 

Nat  kept  his  word  and  did  try  manfully,   working 
early  arid  late,  with  an  energy  that  delighted  Uncle  Dan£> 
^nade  Aunt  Becky  bestir  herself  to  bleach  her  finest  webs 

for  the  wedding  outfit,  and  caused  Ruth  to  believe  tha|P> 
^e  had  forgotten  the  "  pretty  nonsense ; "  for  the  pen 

lay  idle  and  he  gave  all  his  leisure  to  her,  discussing 
Spouse-gear  and  stock  with  as  deep  an  interest  as  herself 
apparently.     All  summer  long  he  toiled  like  one  intenjp*- 

on  his  crops ;  all  winter  he  cut  wood  and  tended 
cattle,  as  if  he  had  no  higher  hope  than  to  sell  so  manj^ 
<(j£ords  and  raise  likely  calves  for  market. 

Outwardly  he  was  a  promising  young  farmer,  with  a 
prosperous  future  and  a  notable  wife  awaiting  him.  But 
deep  in  the  man's  heart  a  spark  of  the  divine  fire  still 
burned,  unquenched^by  duty,  love,  or  time. ;  The  spirit 
that  made  light  in  Milton's  darkness,  walked  with  Burna 
beside  the  plough,  and  lifted  Shakespeare  higher  than  the 
royal  virgin's  hand,  sang  to  Nat  in  the  airy  whisper  of 


172  BY   THE  RIVES. 

the  pines,  as  he  labored  in  the  wintry  wood,  smihd 
back  at  him  in  every  ox-eyed  daisy  his  scythe  laid  low 
along  the  summer  fields,  and  solaced  him  with  visions 
of  a  fairer  future  than  any  buxom  Ruth  could  paint.  It 
would  not  leave  him,  and  he  learned  too  late  that  it  was 
the  life  of  his  life,  a  gift  that  could  not  be  returned,  a 
blessing  turned  into  a  curse ;  for,  though  he  had  burned 
the  little  book,  from  its  ashes  rose  a  flame  that  consumed 
him,  since  it  could  find  no  vent.  Even  the  affection,  for 
which  he  had  made  a  costlier  sacrifice  than  he  knew, 
looked  pale  and  poor  beside  the  loftier  loveliness  that 
dawned  upon  him  in  the  passionate  struggle,  ripening 
heart  and  soul  to  sudden  manhood ;  and  the  life  that 
lay  before  him  seemed  very  bleak  and  barren  when  he 
returned  from  playing  truant  in  the  enchanted  world 
Imagination  opens  to  her  gifted  children. 

Ruth  vaguely  felt  the  presence  of  this  dumb  despair, 
dimly  saw  its  shadow  in  the  eyes  that  sometimes  wore 
a  tragic  look,  and  fancied  that  the  hand  working  so 
faithfully  for  her  was  slipping  from  her  hold,  it  grew  so 
thin  and  hot  with  the  inward  fever,  which  no  herb  in 
all  her  garden  could  allay.  She  vainly  tried  to  rise  to 
his  level ;  but  the  busy  sparrow  could  not  follow  the 
aspiring  lark,  singing  at  heaven's  gate.  It  could  only 
chirp  its  little  lay  and  build  its  nest,  with  no  thought  be 
yond  a  straw,  a  worm,  and  the  mate  that  was  to  come. 

Nat  never  spoke  of  the  past,  and  Ruth  dared  not,  for 
she  grew  to  feel  that  he  did  "  regret  it "  bitterly,  though 
too  generous  for  a  word  of  reproach  or  complaint. 

"  I'll  make  it  up  to  him  when  we  are  married ;  and  he 
•will  learn  to  love  the  farm  when  he  has  little  lads  and 
lasses  of  his  own  to  work  for,"  she  often  said  to  herself 


BY   THE   RIVE  LI. 

as  she  watched  her  lover  sit  among  them,  after  his  day's 
work,  listening  to  their  gossip  with  a  pathetic  sort  of 
patience,  or,  pleading  a  weariness  there  was  no  need  to 
feign,  lie  on  the  old  settle,  lost  in  thoughts  that  made 
i\is  face  shine  like  one  who  talked  with  angels. 

So  the  year  rolled  round,  arid  May  came  again. 
Uncle  Dan  was  well  satisfied,  Aunt  Becky's  prepara 
tions  were  completed,  and  Ruth  had  not  "  changed  he«' 
mind." 

"  Settle  about  the  weddin'  as  soon  as  you  like,  my 
girl,  and  I'll  see  that  it  is  a  merry  one,"  said  the  old 
man,  coming  in  from  work,  as  Ruth  blew  the  horn  from 
the  back  porch  one  night  at  sunset. 

"Nat  must  decide  that.  Where  is  he,  Uncle?" 
asked  the  girl,  looking  out  upon  the  quiet  landscape, 
touched  with  spring's  tenderest  green. 

"Down  in  the  medder,  ploughin'.  It's  a  toughish 
bit,  and  he'll  be  late,  I  reckon ;  for  he  took  a  long  noon- 
spell,  and  I  give  him  a  piece  of  my  mind  about  it,  so 
I'll  venter  to  say  he  won't  touch  a  bit  of  victuals  till 
the  last  furrow  is  laid,"  answered  Uncle  Dan,  plodding 
awav  to  wash  his  hands  at  the  horse-trousrh. 

»  O 

"  Nay,  Uncle,  it  is  his  birthday,  and  surely  he  had  a 
right  to  a  little  rest,  for  he  works  like  a  slave,  to  please 
us,  though  far  from  well,  I'm  thinking."  And,  waiting 
for  no  reply,  Ruth  hurried  in,  filled  a  tankard  with 
cider,  and  tripped  away  to  bring  her  lover  home, 
singing  as  she  went,  for  Nat  loved  to  hear  her  voice. 

Down  the  green  lane  toward  the  river  the  happy 
singer  stepped,  thinking  in  what  sweet  words  she  could 
give  the  old  man's  message.  But  the  song  died  on  her 
lips  and  the  smiling  eyes  grew  wistful  suddenly ;  for, 


174  BY  THE  RIVER. 

passing  by  tlie  willow-trees,  she  saw  the  patient  oxen 
standing  in  the  field  alone. 

"Nat  is  hunting  violets  for  me,"  she  thought,  with  a 
throb  of  pleasure ;  for  she  was  jealous  of  a  viewless  rival, 
and  valued  every  token  of  fidelity  her  lover  gave  her. 

But  as  she  drew  nearer  Ruth  frowned;  for  Nat  lay: 
beside  the  river,  evidently  quite  forgetful  of  scolding, 
supper,  and  sweetheart.  No,  not  of  the  latter ;  for  a 
little  nosegay  of  violets  lay  ready  near  the  paper  on 
which  he  seemed  to  be  writing  a  song  or  sonnet  to 
accompany  the  gift. 

Seeing  this,  the  frown  faded,  as  the  girl  stole  noise 
lessly  across  the  grass,  to  peep  over  his  shoulder,  with 
a  soft  rebuke  for  his  imprudence  and  delay. 

Alas  for  Ruth !  One  glance  at  the  placid  face,  pil 
lowed  on  his  arm,  told  her  that  this  birthday  was  Nat's 
last ;  for  the  violets  were  less  white  than  the  cheek  they 
touched,  the  pencil  had  fallen  from  nerveless  fingers,  and 
Death's  hand  had  written  "  Finis  "  to  both  life  and  lay. 
With  a  bitter  cry,  she  gathered  the  weary  head  into  her 
arms,  fearing  she  had  come  too  late  to  say  good-by. 
But  the  eyes  that  opened  were  so  tranquil,  and  the  pale 
lips  that  answered  wore  such  a  happy  smile,  she  felt 
that  tears  would  mar  his  peace,  and  hushed  her  sobs, 
to  listen  as  he  whispered  brokenly,  with  a  glance  that 
brightened  as  it  turned  from  the  wide  field  where  his 
last  hard  day's  work  lay  finished,  to  the  quiet  river, 
whose  lullaby  was  soothing  him  to  sleep. 

"Tell  Uncle  I  did  not  stop  till  the  job  was  done,  nor 
break  my  promise ;  for  the  year  is  over  now,  and  it  was 
so  sweet  to  write  again  that  I  forgot  to  go  home  till  it 
was  too  late." 


BY  THE  EIVER.  175 

"  O  Nat,  not  too  late.  You  shall  work  no  more, 
but  write  all  day,  without  a  care.  We  have  been  too 
hard  upon  you,  and  you  too  patient  with  our  blindness. 
Dear  lad,  forgive  us,  and  come  home  to  live  a  happier 
year  than  this  has  been,"  cried  Ruth,  trying  with  re 
morseful  tenderness  to  keep  the  delicate  spirit  that  was 
escaping  from  her  hold,  like  the  butterfly  that  died 
among  her  roses  with  broken  wings. 

But  Nat  had  no  desire  to  stay ;  for  he  was  going  home, 
to  feel  hunger,  thirst,  and  weariness  no  more,  to  find  a 
love  Ruth  could  not  give,  and  to  change  earth's  prose 
to  heaven's  immortal  poetry.  Yet  he  lingered  on  the 
threshold  to  look  back  and  whisper  gently :  "  It  is 
better  so,  sweetheart.  There  was  no  place  for  me  here, 
and  I  was  homesick  for  my  own  friends  and  country. 
I'm  going  to  find  them,  and  I'm  quite  content.  Forget 
me  and  be  happy ;  or  remember  me  only  in  the  spring 
time,  when  the  world  is  loveliest  and  my  birthday 
comes.  See,  this  is  all  I  had  to  give  you;  but  my 
heart  was  in  it." 

He  tried  to  lift  the  unfinished  song  and  give  it  to  her ; 
but  it  fluttered  down  upon  his  breast,  and  the  violets 
dropped  after,  lying  there  unstirred  by  any  breath,  for 
with  the  words  a  shadow  deeper  than  that  twilight  laid 
upon  the  fields  stole  over  the  face  on  Ruth's  bosom,  and 
all  the  glory  of  the  sunset  sky  could  only  touch  it  with 
a  pathetic  peace,  as  the  poet  lay  asleep  beside  the  river. 

He  lies  there  still,  the  legend  says,  under  the  low 
green  mound,  where  violets  bloom  earliest,  where  the 
old  willows  drop  their  golden  tassels  in  the  spring,  and 
blackbirds  fill  the  air  with  their  melodious  ecstasy.  No 
eongofhis  lived  after  him;  no  trace  of  him  remains. 


176  BY  THE   RIVER. 

except  that  nameless  grave ;  and  few  ever  heard  of  one 
who  came  and  went  like  the  snow  for  which  they  chris 
tened  him.  Yet  it  seems  as  if  his  gentle  ghost  still 
haunted  those  sunny  meadows,  still  listened  to  the 
enchanted  river,  and  touched  with  some  mysterious 
charm  the  places  that  knew  him  once.  For  strangers 
find  a  soft  attraction  in  the  'quiet  landscape ;  lovers  seek 
those  green  solitudes  to  tell  the  story  that  is  always 
new ;  and  poets  muse  beside  the  shadowy  stream,  hear 
ing,  as  he  heard,  a  call  to  live  the  life  that  lifts  thera 
highest  by  unwavering  fidelity  to  the  gift  Heaven 
sends. 


LETTY'S     TRAMP. 


IETTY  sat  on  the  doorstep  one  breezy  summer  day, 
-^  looking  down  the  road  and  wishing  with  all  her 
heart  that  something  pleasant  would  happen.  She 
often  did  this ;  and  one  of  her  earliest  delights  when  a 
lonely  child  was  to  sit  there  with  a  fairy  book  upon  her 
knee,  waiting  and  watching  in  all  good  faith  for  some 
thing  wonderful  to  happen. 

In  those  days,  Cinderella's  golden  coach  dashing 
round  the  corner  to  carry  her  away  was  the  favorite 
dream ;  but  at  eighteen  one  thinks  more  of  the  prince 
than  either  golden  coach  or  splendid  ball.  But  nc 
prince  as  yet  had  cut  his  way  through  the  grove  of 
"laylocks"  round  the  gate,  and  the  little  beauty  still 
dreamed  waking  dreams  on  the  doorstep,  with  her  work 
forgotten  in  her  lap. 

Behind  her  in  the  quaint,  quiet  room  Aunt  Liddy 
dozed  in  her  easy  chair,  the  clock  ticked,  the  bird 
chirped,  old  Bran  snapped  lazily  at  the  flies,  and  noth 
ing  else  broke  the  hush  that  brooded  over  the  place. 
It  was  always  so,  and  Letty  often  felt  as  if  an  earth 
quake  would  be  a  blessed  relief  to  the  dreadful  mo 
notony  of  her  life. 

To-day  it  was  peculiarly  trying,  for  a  slight  incident 
had  ruffled  the  calm;  and,  though  it  lasted  but  a 

12 


LT8          •  LETTFS    TRAMP. 

moment,  it  had  given  Letty  a  glimpse  into  that  lovely 
"new  world  which  is  the  old."  A  carriage  containing  a 
gay  young  couple  on  their  honeymoon  trip  had  stopped 
at  the  gate,  for  the  bride  had  a  fancy  for  a  draught  from 
the  mossy  well,  and  the  bridegroom  blandly  demanded 
that  her  whim  be  gratified. 

Letty  served  them,  and  while  one  pretty  girl  slaked 
her  thirst  the  other  watched  her  with  admiring  eyes 
and  a  tender  interest,  touched  by  envy.  It  was  all 
over  in  a  minute.  Then  bonny  bride  and  enamoured 
bridegroom  rolled  away  on  that  enchanted  journey 
which  is  taken  but  once  in  a  lifetime,  leaving  a  cloud 
of  dust  behind  and  a  deeper  discontent  in  Letty's  heart. 

With  a  long  sigh  she  had  gone  back  to  her  seat,  and, 
closing  her  eyes  upon  a  world  that  could  offer  her  so 
little,  fell  a-dreaming  again,  till  a  rough  voice  startled 
her  wide  awake. 

"  I  say,  miss,  can  you  give  a  poor  fellow  a  bite  and  a 
sup?" 

Opening  her  eyes,  she  saw  a  sturdy  tramp  leaning 
over  the  low  gate,  so  ragged,  dusty,  worn,  and  weary 
that  she  forgave  the  look  of  admiration  in  the  bold 
black  eyes  which  had  been  fixed  on  her  longer  than  she 
knew.  Before  she  could  answer,  however,  Aunt  Liddy, 
a  hospitable  old  soul,  called  out  from  within, — 

"  Certin,  certin.  Set  right  down  on  the  doorstep 
and  rest  a  spell,  while  we  see  what  we  can  do  abou' 
vittles." 

Letty  vanished  into  the  pantry,  and  the  man  thie^ 
himself  down  in  the  shady  porch,  regardless  of  Bran's 
suspicious  growl.  He  pulled  off  his  hat,  stretched  out 
his  tired  limbs,  and  leaned  his  rough  head  back  among 


LETTY^S   TRAMP.  179 

the  woodbine  leaves,  with  a  long  breath,  as  if  nearly 
spent. 

When  Letty  brought  him  a  plate  of  bread  and  meat, 
he  took  it  from  her  so  eagerly  and  with  such  a  ravenous 
look  that  she  shrank  back  involuntarily.  Seeing  which 
he  said,  with  a  poor  attempt  at  a  laugh,  — 

"  You  needn't  be  afraid.  I  look  like  a  rough  cus 
tomer  ;  but  I  won't  hurt  you. 

"  Lawful  sakes !  We  ain't  no  call  to  be  afraid  of  no 
one,  though  we  be  lone  women ;  for  Bran  is  better'n  a 
dozen  men.  A  lamb  to  them  he  knows;  but  let  any 
one  try  to  pester  Letty,  and  I  never  see  a  fercer  beast," 
said  Aunt  Liddy,  as  the  girl  went  back  for  more  food, 
seeing  the  stranger's  need. 

"  He  knows  I'm  all  right,  and  makes  friends  at  once, 
you  see,"  answered  the  tramp,  with  a  satisfied  nod,  as 
Bran,  after  a  brief  investigation,  sat  down  beside  him, 
with  a  pacific  wag  of  the  tail. 

"  Well,  I  never !  He  don't  often  do  that  to  strangers. 
Guess  you're  fond  of  dumb  critters,"  said  Aunt  Liddy, 
much  impressed  by  Bran's  unusual  condescension. 

"  They've  been  my  best  friends,  and  I  don't  forget  it," 
returned  the  man,  giving  the  dog  a  bone,  though  half- 
starved  himself. 

Something  in  the  tone,  the  act,  touched  Letty's 
Lender  heart,  and  made  her  own  voice  very  sweet  and 
cordial  as  she  said, — 

"  Please  have  some  milk.     It's  nice  and  cold." 

The  tramp  put  up  both  hands  to  take  the  bowl,  and 
as  he  did  so  looked  into  a  face  so  full  of  compassion 
that  it  seemed  like  an  angel's  leaning  down  to  comfort 
»  lost  and  weary  soul.  Hard  as  life  had  been  to  the 


180  LETTY'S   TRAMP, 

poor  fellow,  it  had  not  spoiled  him  yet,  as  was  plainly 
proved  by  the  change  that  softened  his  whole  face  like 
magic,  and  trembled  in  the  voice  that  said,  as  if  it  were 
a  sort  of  grace,  "  God  bless  you,  Miss,"  as  he  bent  his 
head  and  drank. 

Only  a  look  of  human  sympathy  and  human  gratitude ; 
yet,  in  the  drawing  of  a  breath,  it  cast  out  Letty's  fear, 
and  made  the  stranger  feel  as  if  he  had  found  friends, 
for  it  was  the  touch  of  Nature  that  makes  the  whole 
world  kin.  Every  one  seemed  to  feel  its  influence. 
Bran  turned  his  benevolent  eyes  approvingly  from  his 
mistress  to  his  new  friend :  the  girl  sat  down  confid 
ingly;  and  the  old  lady  began  to  talk,  for,  being  fond 
of  chat,  she  considered  a  stranger  as  a  special  provi 
dence. 

"  Where  be  you  travellin'  ?  " 

"  Nowhere  in  particular." 

"  Where  did  you  come  from,  then  ?  "  continued  Aunt 
Liddy,  undaunted  by  the  short  answer. 

"  California." 

"  Do  tell !  Guess  you've  been  one  of  the  rovin'  sort, 
ain't  you?" 

"  Haven't  done  much  else." 

"  It  don't  appear  to  have  agreed  with  you  remarkable 
Nell,"  said  the  blunt  old  lady,  peering  at  him  over  her 
spectacles. 

%'  If  I  hadn't  had  the  devil's  own  luck,  I'd  have  been 
a  rich  man,  instead  of  a  beggar,"  answered  the  tramp, 
with  a  grim  look  and  an  ireful  knitting  of  his  black 
brows. 

"  Been  unfort'nate,  have  you  ?  I'm  sorry  for  that ;  but 
it  'pears  to  me  them  as  stays  to  home  and  works  stiddy 


LETTY'S    TRAMP.  181 

does  better  than  them  that  goes  huntin'  after  luck,"  ob 
served  Aunt  Liddy,  feeling  it  her  duty  to  give  a  word 
of  advice. 

"  Shouldn't  wonder  if  you  were  right,  ma'am.  But 
some  folks  haven't  got  any  home  to  stay  in ;  and  fellows 
of  my  sort  have  to  hunt  after  luck,  for  it  won't  come 
to  'em." 

"  Ain't  you  got  no  friends,  young  man  ?" 

"Not  one.     Lost  the  last  yesterday." 

"  Took  suddin,  I  suppose  ? "  and  the  old  lady's  face 
was  full  of  interest  as  she  put  the  question. 

"  Drowned." 

"  Merciful  sakes !     How  did  it  happen  ?  " 

"Got  hurt,  couldn't  be  cured,  so  I  drowned  him, 
and"  — 

"What!"  shrieked  Aunt  Liddy,  upsetting  her  foot 
stool  with  a  horrified  start. 

"  Only  a  dog,  ma'am.  I  couldn't  carry  him,  wouldn't 
leave  him  to  suffer ;  so  put  him  out  of  pain  and  came 
on  alone." 

The  tramp  had  ceased  eating,  and  sat  with  his  head 
on  his  hand  in  a  despondent  attitude,  that  told  his  story 
better  than  words.  His  voice  was  gruffer  than  ever  as 
'he  spoke  of  his  dog;  but  the  last  word  was  husky,  and 
he  put  his  hand  on  Bran's  head  with  a  touch  that  won 
the  good  creature's  heart  entirely,  and  made  him  lick 
the  downcast  face,  with  a  little  whine  of  sympathy  and 
satisfaction. 

Letty's  eyes  were  full,  and  Aunt  Liddy  took  snuff 
and  settled  her  footstool,  feeling  that  something  must 
be  done  for  one  who  showed  signs  of  being  worth  the 
saving. 


l$2  LETUPS    TRAMP 

"  Poor  creter!  And  you  was  fond  of  him?"  she  said 
in  a  motherly  tone ;  for  the  man  of  five  or  six  and 
twenty  was  but  a  boy  to  her. 

"  I'd  have  been  a  brute  if  I  wasn't  fond  of  him,  for  he 
stuck  to  me  when  all  the  other  fellows  cut  me,  and  tried 
to  drag  himself  along  with  a  broken  leg,  rathei  than 
leave  me.  Talk  about  friends!  Give  me  a  dumb 
animal  if  you  want  one  worth  having." 

A  bitter  tone  was  in  the  man's  voice  and  a  wrathful 
spark  kindled  in  his  eyes,  as  if  wrong  as  well  as  want 
had  made  him  wha,t  he  was. 

"Rest  a  little,  and  tell  us  about  California.  A  neigh 
bor  went  there,  and  we  like  to  hear  news  of  that  great, 
splendid  place." 

Letty  spoke,  and  the  half-eager,  half-timid  voice  was 
very  winning,  especially  to  one  who  seldom  heard  such 
now.  Seeing  her  kindly  interest,  and  glad  to  pay  for 
his  meal  in  the  only  way  he  could,  the  man  told  some 
of  his  adventures  in  brief  but  graphic  words,  while  the 
old  woman  plied  him  with  questions  and  the  young  one 
listened  with  a  face  so  full  of  pretty  wonder  that  the 
story-teller  was  inspired  to  do  his  best. 

Aunt  Liddy's  cap-frills  stood  erect  with  horror  at 
some  of  the  hair-breadth  escapes  recounted;  but  to 
Letty  it  was  better  than  any  romance  she  had  ever 
read  to  listen  to  tales  full  of  danger  and  hardship, 
told  by  a  living  voice  and  face  to  face  with  the  chief 
actor  in  them  all,  who  unconsciously  betrayed  that  he 
possessed  many  of  the  manly  attributes  women  most 
admire. 

"  After  adventures  like  these,  I  don't  wonder  it  seems 
hanl  to  settle  down,  as  other  folks  do,"  she  said  warmly, 


LETTY'S   TRAMP. 

when  the  man  stopped  short,  as  if  ashamed  of  talking 
so  much  of  his  own  affairs. 

u  I  wouldn't  mind  trying  it,  though,"  he  answered,  aa 
he  glanced  about  the  sunny  little  room,  so  homelike 
and  reposeful,  and  so  haunted  by  all  the  sweet  influences 
that  touch  men's  hearts  when  most  forlorn. 

"  You'd  better,"  said  Aunt  Liddy,  decidedly.  "  Git 
work  and  stick  to  it ;  and,  if  luck  don't  come,  bread  and 
butter  will,  and  in  a  world  of  woe  mebby  that's  about 
as  much  as  any  one  on  us  ought  to  expect." 

"  I  have  tried  to  get  it.  But  I'm  such  a  hard-looking 
chap  no  one  wants  me ;  and  I  don't  blame  'ern.  Look 
at  that  hat,  now !  Ain't  that  enough  to  spoil  a  man's 
chance,  let  alone  his  looks  ?  "  The  young  fellow  held  up 
a  battered  object  with  such  a  comical  mixture  of  dis 
gust  and  indignation  that  Letty  could  not  help  laugh 
ing;  and  the  blithe  sound  was  so  contagious  that  the 
wanderer  joined  in  it,  cheered  already  by  rest  and  food 
and  kindly  words. 

"  It's  singular  what  store  men-folks  do  set  by  their 
hats.  My  Moses  couldn't  never  read  his  paper  till  he'd 
put  on  his'n,  and  as  for  drivin'  a  nail  bare-headed,  in 
doors  or  out,  he'd  never  think  of  such  a  thing,"  said 
Aunt  Liddy,  with  the  air  of  one  well  versed  in  the 
mysterious  ways  of  men-folks. 

But  Letty  clapped  her  hands,  as  if  a  brilliant  idea 
had  flashed  upon  her,  and,  running  to  the  back  entry, 
returned  with  a  straw  hat,  brown  and  dusty,  but  shady, 
whole,  and  far  more  appropriate  to  the  season  than  the 
ragged  felt  the  man  was  eying  hopelessly. 

"  It  isn't  very  good ;  but  it  might  do  for  a  time. 
We  only  keep  it  to  scare  folks,  and  I  don't  feel  afraid 


184  LETTY'S   TRAMP, 

now.  Would  you  mind  if  I  gave  it  to  you?"  stam 
mered  Letty,  coloring  up,  as  she  tried  to  offer  her  poor 
gift  courteously. 

"  Mind!  I  guess  I'd  be  glad  to  get  it,  fit  or  no  fit," 
and,  dropping  the  old  hat,  the  tramp  clapped  on  the  new 
one,  making  his  mirror  of  the  bright  eyes  before  him. 

"  It  does  nicely,  and  you're  very  welcome,"  said  the 
girl,  getting  rosier  still,  for  there  was  something  beside 
gratitude  in  the  brown  face  that  had  lost  the  dogged, 
dangerous  look  it  wore  at  first. 

"•  Now,  if  you  was  to  wash  up  and  smooth  that  hair 
of  yourn  a  trifle,  you'd  be  a  likely-looking  young  man ; 
and,  if  you're  civil-spoken  and  willin'  to  lend  a  hand 
anywheres,  you'll  git  work,  I  ain't  a  doubt,"  observed 
Aunt  Liddy,  feeling  a  growing  interest  in  the  wayfarer, 
and,  womanlike,  acknowledging  the  necessity  of  putting 
the  best  foot  foremost. 

Letty  ran  for  basin  and  towel,  and,  pointing  to  the 
well,  modestly  retired  into  the  kitchen,  while  Aunt 
Liddy  watched  the  vigorous  scrubbing  that  went  on  in 
the  yard ;  for  the  tramp  splashed  the  water  about  like 
a  Newfoundland  dog,  and  Bran  assisted  at  the  brief 
toilet  with  hospitable  zeal. 

It  seemed  as  if  a  different  man  came  out  from  that 
simple  baptism;  for  the  haggard  cheek  had  a  glow 
upon  it,  the  eyes  had  lost  their  hopelessness,  and  some 
thing  like  courage  and  self-respect  shone  in  the  face 
that  looked  in  at  the  door  as  the  stranger  gave  back 
basin  and  towel,  saying,  with  a  wave  of  the  old  straw 
hat, — 

"I'm  heartily  obliged,  ma'am.  Would  you  kindly 
tell  me  how  far  it  is  to  the  next  bis:  town?" 


LE TIT'S    TRAMP. 

"Twenty  miles.  The  cars  will  take  you  right  there, 
and  the  deepo  ain't  fur,"  answered  Aunt  Liddy,  show 
ing  the  way. 

The  man  glanced  at  his  ragged  shoes,  then  squared 
his  broad  shoulders,  as  if  bracing  himself  for  the  twenty 
long  hot  miles  that  his  weary  feet  must  carry  him,  since 
his  pockets  were  empty,  and  he  could  not  bring  him 
self  to  ask  for  any  thing  but  food  enough  to  keep  life 
in  him. 

"  Good-by,  ma'am,  and  God  bless  you."  And,  slouch 
ing  the  hat  over  his  eyes,  he  limped  away,  escorted  to 
the  gate  by  Bran. 

At  the  turn  of  the  road  he  stopped  and  looked  back 
as  wistfully  as  ever  Letty  had  done  along  the  shadowy 
road,  and  as  he  looked  it  seemed  as  if  he  saw  a  you  iger 
self  setting  off  with  courage,  hope,  and  energy  upon 
the  journey,  which  alas!  had  ended  here.  His  eye 
went  to  the  old  well,  as  if  there  had  been  some  heal 
ing  in  its  water;  then  turned  to  the  porch,  where  he 
had  been  fed  and  comforted,  and  lingered  there  as  if 
some  kindly  memory  warmed  his  solitary  heart. 

Just  then  a  little  figure  in  blue  gingham  ran  out  and 
came  fluttering  after  him,  accompanied  by  Bran,  in  a 
slate  of  riotous  delight.  Rosy  and  breathless,  Letty 
hurried  to  him,  and,  looking  up  with  a  face  full  of  the 
innocent  compassion  that  never  can  offend,  she  said, 
offering  a  parcel  neatly  folded  up,  — 

"  Aunt  Liddy  sends  you  some  dinner ;  and  this,  so 
that  you  needn't  walk,  unless  you  like,  you  are  so  lame." 

As  if  more  touched  than  he  cared  to  show,  the  man 
took  the  food,  but  gently  put  away  the  little  rdll  of 
greenbacks,  saying  quickly,  — 


186  LETTrS   TRAMP. 


"  Thank  you  for  this  ;  but  I  can't  take  your  money  " 

"  We  ain't  rich,  but  we  love  to  help  folks.     So  yo 
needn't  be  proud  about  it."     And  Letty  looked  ruffled 
at  his  refusal. 

"  I'll  take  something  else,  if  you  don't  mind,"  said 
the  tramp,  pulling  off  his  hat,  with  a  sudden  smile  that 
made  his  face  look  young  and  comely. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  And  Letty  looked  up  so  innocently 
that  it  was  impossible  to  resist  the  impulse  of  a  grate 
ful  heart. 

His  answer  was  to  stoop  and  kiss  the  blooming 
cheek,  that  instantly  grew  scarlet  with  girlish  shame 
and  anger  as  she  turned  to  fly.  Catching  her  by  the 
hand,  he  said  penitently,  — 

"  I  couldn't  help  it.  you're  so  good  to  me.  Don't 
begrudge  me  a  kiss  for  luck.  I  need  it,  God  knows  !  " 

The  man's  real  destitution  and  despair  broke  out  in 
these  words,  and  he  grasped  the  little  hand  as  if  it  was 
the  only  thing  that  kept  him  from  the  manifold  temp 
tations  of  a  desperate  mood. 

It  thrilled  the  girl  like  a  cry  for  help,  and  made  her 
forget  every  thing  except  that  a  fellow-creature  suffered. 
She  shook  the  big  hand  warmly,  and  said,  with  all  her 
heart,  — 

"  Y'ou're  welcome,  if  it  helps  you.  Good-by  and  good 
I'lck  to  you  !  "  and  ran  away  as  fast  as  she  had  come. 

The  man  stood  motionless,  and  watched  her  till  she 
vanished,  then  turned  and  tramped  sturdily  on,  mut 
tering  to  himself,  with  a  suspicious  gruffhess  in  his 
voice,  — 

"  If  I  had  a  little  mate  like  that  alongside,  I  know 
my  luck  would  turn." 


LETTY'S    TRAMP.  187 


CHAPTER   II. 

A  ^ILD  December  night,  with  bitter  wind  and  blind- 
ing  snow,  reigned  outside  the  long,  rude  building, 
lighted  only  by  furnace  fires,  that  went  roaring  up  the 
tall  chimneys,  whence  poured  clouds  of  smoke  and 
showers  of  sparks,  like  beacons  through  the  storm. 
No  living  thing  appeared  in  that  shadowy  place  except 
a  matronly  gray  cat,  sitting  bolt  upright  upon  an  old 
rug  spread  over  a  heap  of  sand  near  one  of  the  fires 
A  newspaper  and  a  tin  pail  were  beside  her,  and  she 
seemed  to  have  mounted  guard,  while  the  watchman 
of  the  Foundry  went  his  rounds. 

A  door  stood  half-open  upon  the  sheltered  side  of 
the  building;  and  suddenly,  as  if  blown  thither  like 
a  storm-driven  bird,  a  little  figure  came  fluttering  in, 
breathless,  half-frozen,  and  quite  bewildered  by  a  long 
struggle  with  the  pitiless  gale.  Feebly  brushing  away 
the  snow  that  blinded  her,  the  poor  thing  looked  about 
her  with  frightened  eyes ;  and,  seeing  no  one  but  the 
cat,  seemed  to  take  courage  and  crept  toward  the  fire, 
as  if  suffering  for  the  moment  conquered  fear. 

"  Oh !  Pussy,  let  rne  warm  myself  one  minute,  for 
I'm  perished  with  the  cold,"  she  whispered,  stretching 
two  benumbed  hands  to  the  blaze. 

The  cat  opened  her  yellow  eyes,  and,  evidently  glad 
to  meet  one  of  her  own  sex,  began  to  purr  hospitably 
as  she  rustled  across  the  newspaper  to  greet  her  guest. 
There  was  something  inexpressibly  comforting  in  the 
sound;  and,  reassured  by  it,  the  girl  pushed  back  hei 


188  LETTY'S    TRAMP. 

drenched  bat,  shook  her  snowy  garments,  and  drew  a 
1  >ng  breath,  like  one  nearly  spent.  Yet,  even  while  she 
basked  in  the  warmth  that  was  salvation,  her  timid  eyes 
glanced  about  the  great,  gloomy  place,  and  her  attitude 
was  that  of  one  ready  to  fly  at  a  moment's  warning. 

Presently  a  step  sounded  on  a  flight  of  stairs  leading 
to  some  loft  above  The  wanderer  started  like  a  hare, 
and,  drawing  nearer  to  the  door,  paused  as  if  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  approaching  face  before  she  fled  away 
into  the  storm,  that  howled  just  then  with  a  violence 
which  might  well  daunt  a  stouter  heart. 

A  tall  man,  in  a  rough  coat,  with  grizzled  hair  and 
beard  under  an  old  fur  cap,  came  slowly  down  the 
steps,  whistling  softly  to  himself,  as  he  swung  his  lantern 
to  and  fro. 

"  An  old  man,  and  the  cat  is  fond  of  him.  I  guess 
I'll  dare  to  ask  my  way,  or  I'll  never  get  home,"  thought 
the  girl,  as  her  eye  scanned  the  new-comer  with  a 
woman's  quickness. 

An  involuntary  rustle  of  her  dress  caught  his  ear, 
and,  lifting  the  lantern,  he  saw  her  at  once ;  but  did 
not  speak,  as  if  afraid  of  frightening  her  still  more,  for 
her  pale  face  and  the  appealing  gesture  of  the  out 
stretched  hand  told  her  fear  and  need  better  than  her 
hurried  words,  — 

"  Oh !  please,  I've  lost  my  way  and  am  nearly  frozeu. 
Could  I  warm  myself  a  bit  and  find  out  where  I  am?" 

"  Of  course,  you  may.  Why,  bless  your  heart,  I 
wouldn't  turn  a  dog  out  such  a  night  as  this,  much  less 
a  poor  little  soul  like  you,"  answered  the  man,  in  a 
hearty  tone,  that  rang  true  on  the  listening  ear  of  the 
girl. 


LETTY'8    TRAMP.  189 

Then  he  hung  up  the  lantern,  put  a  stool  nearer  the 
fire,  and  beckoned  her  to  approach.  But  even  the 
kindly  words  and  act  failed  to  win  the  timid  creature ; 
for  she  drew  back  as  he  advanced,  gave  a  glance  at  the 
door,  and  said,  as  if  appealing  to  the  best  instincts  of 
the  man,  whom  she  longed  yet  feared  to  trust,  — 

"  Thank  you ;  but  it's  getting  late,  and  I  ought  to  be 
getting  on,  if  I  knew  the  way.  Perhaps  you've  got 
some  girls  of  your  own,  so  you  can  understand  how 
scared  I  am  to  be  lost  at  night  and  in  such  a  strange 
place  as  this." 

The  man  stared,  then  laughed,  and,  shaking  the  snow 
from  his  curly  hair  and  beard,  showed  himself  to  be  a 
young  and  pleasant-looking  fellow,  with  a  merry  eye, 
an  honest  brown  face,  and  a  hearty  voice. 

"  You  thought  I  was  an  old  chap,  did  you?  Wish  I 
was,  if  it  would  be  any  comfort  to  you.  I've  got  no 
little  girls,  neither,  more's  the  pity ;  but  you  needn't 
be  afraid  of  me,  though  it  is  late  and  lonely.  Why, 
Lord  love  you,  child,  I'm  not  a  brute !  Sit  down  and 
thaw  out,  while  you  tell  me  where  you  want  to  go." 

The  half-indignant  tone ,  of  the  man  made  his  guest 
feel  as  if  she  had  insulted  him ;  and  she  obeyed  with 
a  docility  which  appeased  his  anger  at  once.  Seating 
herself  upon  the  stool,  she  leaned  toward  the  fire  with 
an  irrepressible  shiver,  and  tried  to  keep  her  teeth  from 
chattering  as  she  told  her  little  story. 

"  I  want  work  badly,  and  went  a  long  way,  hoping 
to  get  some.  But  I  didn't  find  it,  and  that  discouraged 
me  very  much.  I  had  no  money,  so  had  to  walk,  and 
the  storm  got  so  bad  1  lost  my  way.  Then  I  waa 
scared  and  half-frozen,  and  so  bewildered  I  think  I'd 


190  LETTY'S   TRAMP. 

have  died  if  I  hadn't  seen  the  light  and  come  in 
here." 

"  I  guess  you  would.  And  the  best  thing  you  can 
do  now  is  to  stop  till  the  storm  lifts.  Shouldn't  wonder 
if  it  did  about  midnight,"  said  the  man,  stirring  up 
the  red  embers,  as  if  anxious  to  do  something  for  her 
comfort. 

"  But  that  is  so  late,  and  I  must  be  ever  so  far  away 
from  home ;  for  I  came  over  the  wrong  bridge.  Oh, 
me !  What  shall  I  dp  ?  "  And  the  poor  thing  wrung 
her  hands  in  dismay. 

"  Won't  your  folks  go  to  look  for  you?  " 

"I  haven't  anyone  in  the  world  to  care  for  me. 
The  woman  where  I  board  won't  trouble  herself;  or 
she'll  think  I've  run  away,  because  I  owe  her  money. 
I  might  be  dead  in  the  river,  and  no  one  would 
mind !  "  sighed  the  girl,  leaning  her  head  on  her  hands, 
while  some  bright,  dishevelled  hair  fell  over  her  face,  as 
if  to  hide  its  youth  and  innocence  from  a  world  that 
seemed  to  have  no  shelter  for  either. 

"  That's  hard !  But  don't  you  be  down-hearted, 
child.  Things  often  mend  when  they  seem  worst.  I 
know ;  for  I've  been  through  the  mill,  and  had  friends 
raised  up  to  me  when  I'd  about  done  with  living,  as  a 
bad  job.  I  can't  leave  here  till  sunrise ;  but  I'll  do  the 
best  I  can  for  you  till  then.  Sam  will  be  along  early, 
and  he'll  see  to  you,  if  you  can't  trust  me  ;  for  he  is  as 
gray  as  a  badger,  and  he's  got  six  girls  of  his  own,  if 
that's  a  recommendation.  I've  got  nothing  but  a  cat ; 
and  she  trusts  me.  Don't  you,  old  Sally  ?  " 

As  he  spoke,  the  man  sat  down  upon  the  sand-heap, 
and  Sally  leaped  to  his  knee,  rubbing  her  head  against 


LETTY'S   TRAMP. 

his  cheek,  with  a  soft  sound  of  confidence  and  content 
ment  which  seemed  to  afford  her  friend  great  satisfac 
tion.  The  girl  smiled  faintly,  and  said,  in  an  apologetic 
tone,  for  there  had  been  something  like  reproach  in  the 
man's  voice,  as  he  asked  the  dumb  animal  to  vouch  for 
his  character,  — 

"  I  don't  believe  I'd  have  dared  to  come  in  here  if  I 
hadn't  seen  Pussy.  But  I  thought  any  one  who  was 
good  to  her  would  be  good  to  me ;  and  now  I'm  sure 
of  it." 

"That's  right.  You  see,  I'm  a  lonesome  sort  of  a 
chap  and  like  something  to  pet.  So  I  took  old  Sally, 
and  we  get  on  capitally.  She  won't  let  the  other  fellows 
touch  her,  but  always  comes  and  sits  with  me  when  1 
am  alone  here  nights.  And  it's  surprising  what  good 
company  she  is." 

He  laughed  as  he  spoke,  as  if  half-ashamed  of  the  ami 
able  weakness,  yet  anxious  to  put  his  guest  at  her  ease. 
He  evidently  succeeded ;  for  she  stretched  two  shabby 
little  boots  toward  the  fire  and  leaned  her  head  against 
a  grimy  beam,  saying,  with  a  sigh  of  weariness,  — 

"  It  is  very  comfortable ;  but  the  heat  makes  me  feel 
queer  and  dizzy." 

"You're  just  about  used  up;  and  I'm  going  to  give 
you  a  sup  of  hot  coffee.  That'll  bring  you  round  in  a 
jiffy.  It's  time  for  supper.  Hey,  Sally?" 

As  he  spoke,  the  man  set  his  pail  in  the  hot  ashes, 
unfolded  a  parcel  of  bread  and  meat,  and,  laying  a  rude 
sandwich  on  a  clean  bit  of  paper,  offered  it  with  a  hos 
pitable  — 

"  Have  a  bit.  Do,  now.  You've  had  a  hard  pull  and 
something  to  set  you  up." 


192  LETTY'S    TRAMP. 

Leaning  forward  to  give  and  take,  two  faces  came 
into  the  clear  red  glow  of  the  furnace-fire,  and  a  look 
of  recognition  flashed  into  each  so  suddenly  that  it 
startled  both  man  and  maid  into  involuntary  frankness 
of  expression. 

"  Why,  it's  little  Letty ! " 

"  And  you  are  my  tramp ! " 

A  change  so  rapid  as  to  be  almost  ludicrous  came 
over  the  pair  in  the  drawing  of  a  breath.  She  smoothed 
back  her  hair  and  hid  the  shabby  boots,  yet  sat  more 
erect  upon  the  stool,  as  if  she  had  a  right  there  and  felt 
no  longer  any  fear.  He  pulled  off  his  cap,  with  a  pleas 
ant  mixture  of  respect,  surprise,  and  satisfaction  in  his 
manner,  as  he  said,  in  a  half-proud,  half-humble  tone,  — 

"No,  miss;  for,  thanks  to  you,  I'm  a  decent  man 
now." 

"  Then  you  did  find  work  and  get  on  ?  "  she  exclaimed, 
with  a  bright,  wistful  look,  that  touched  him  very 
much. 

"Didn't  you  get  my  letter?"  he  asked  eagerly.  "1 
sent  you  the  first  dollar  I  earned,  and  told  you  and  the 
old  lady  I  was  all  right." 

Letty  shook  her  head,  and  all  the  light  passed  out  of 
her  face,  leaving  it  pathetic  in  its  patient  sorrow. 

•*  Aunt  Liddy  died  a  week  after  you  were  there,  so 
suddenly  that  every  thing  was  in  confusion,  and  I  never 
got  the  letter.  I  wish  she  had  known  of  it,  because  it 
would  have  pleased  her  so.  We  often  talked  about 
you  and  hoped  you'd  do  well.  We  led  such  quiet 
lives,  you  see,  that  any  little  thing  interested  us  for  a 
long  time." 

"  It  was  a  little  thing  to  you,  I  dare  say ;  but  it  wa« 


LETTY*  S   TRAMP.  193 

salvation  to  me.  Not  the  money  or  the  food  only,  but 
the  kindness  of  the  old  lady,  and  —  and  the  look  in  your 
sweet  face,  miss.  I'd  got  so  far  down,  through  sickiess 
and  bad  luck,  that  there  didn't  seem  any  thing  left  for 
me  but  deviltry  or  death.  That  day  it  was  a  toss-up 
between  any  bad  job  that  came  along  first  and  drown 
ing,  like  my  dog.  That  seemed  sort  of  mean,  though; 
and  I  felt  more  like  being  revenged  somehow  on  the 
world,  that  had  been  so  hard  on  me." 

He  stopped  short,  breathing  hard,  with  a  sudden 
spark  in  his  black  eyes  and  a  nervous  clenching  of  the 
strong  hands  that  made  Letty  shrink ;  for  he  seemed  to 
speak  in  spite  of  himself,  as  if  the  memory  of  that  time 
had  left  its  impress  on  his  life. 

"But  you  didn't  do  any  thing  bad.  I'm  sure  you 
didn't ;  for  Aunt  Liddy  said  there  was  the  making  of  a 
man  in  you,  because  you  were  so  quick  to  feel  a  little 
bit  of  kindness  and  take  good  advice." 

The  soft,  eager  voice  of  the  girl  seemed  to  work  the 
miracle  anew,  for  a  smile  broke  over  his  face,  the  angry 
spark  was  quenched,  and  the  clenched  hand  opened  to 
offer  again  all  it  had  to  give,  as  he  said,  with  a  charac 
teristic  mingling  of  fun  and  feeling  in  his  voice,  — 

"  I  don't  know  much  about  angels ;  but  I  felt  as  if  I'd 
met  a  couple  that  day,  for  they  saved  me  from  destruc 
tion.  You  cast  your  bread  upon  the  waters,  and  it's 
come  back  when,  maybe,  you  need  it  'most  as  much  as 
I  did  then.  'Tisn't  half  as  nice  as  yours ;  but  perhaps 
a  blessing  will  do  as  well  as  butter." 

Letty  took  the  brown  bread,  feeling  that  he  had  said 
the  best  grace  over  it;  and  while  she  ate  he  talked, 
evidently  moved  to  open  his  heart  by  the  memory  of 

13 


194  LETTY'S    TRAMP. 

the  past,  and  eager  to  show  that  he  had  manfully  per 
sisted  iii  the  well-doing  his  angels  had  advised. 

"That  was  nearly  two  years  ago,  you  know,  and  I've 
been  hard  at  it  ever  since.  I  took  any  thing  that  come 
along,  and  was  glad  to  get  it.  The  hat  did  that,  I  firmly 
believe."  And  he  laughed  a  short  laugh,  adding  soberly, 
!U  But  I  didn't  take  to  work  at  first,  for  I'd  been  a 
rover  and  liked  it ;  so  it  took  a  long  pull  and  a  strong 
pull  and  a  pull  all  together  before  I  settled  down  steady. 
The  hat  and  the"  —  he  was  going  to  say  "kiss;"  but  a 
look  at  the  lonely  little  creature  sitting  there  so  con 
fidingly  made  him  change  the  word  to  — "  the  money 
seemed  to  bring  me  luck ;  and  I  followed  the  advice  of  the 
good  old  lady,  and  stuck  to  my  work  till  I  got  to  liking  it. 
I've  been  here  more  than  a  year  now,  and  am  getting  on 
so  well  I  shall  be  overseer  before  long.  I'm  only  watch 
man  for  a  short  time.  Old  Sam  has  been  sick,  and  they 
wanted  some  one  they  could  trust,  so  they  chose  me." 

It  was  good  to  see  him  square  his  broad  shoulders 
and  throw  back  his  head  as  he  said  that;  and  pretty  to 
see  Letty  nod  and  smile  with  sincerest  pleasure  in  his 
success,  as  she  said,  — 

"  It  looks  dark  and  ugly  now  ;  but  I've  seen  a  foundry 
when  they  were  casting,  and  it  was  splendid  to  watch 
the  men  manage  the  furnaces  and  do  wonderful  things 
with  great  hammers  and  moulds  and  buckets  of  red-hot 
melted  iron.  I  like  to  know  you  do  such  things,  and 
now  I'm  not  afraid.  It  seems  sort  of  romantic  and 
grand  to  work  in  this  place,  where  every  one  must  be 
strong  and  brave  and  skilful  to  get  on." 

"That's  it.  That's  why  I  like  it;  don't  you  see?" 
he  answered,  brightening  with  pleasure  at  her  artless 


LETTY'S    TRAMP.  195 

praise.  "  You  just  come  some  casting  day,  and  I'll  show 
you  sights  you  won't  forget  in  a  hurry.  If  there 
wasn't  danger  and  noise  and  good  hard  work  wrastling 
with  fire  and  iron,  and  keeping  a  rough  set  of  fellows 
in  order,  I  shouldn't  stay ;  for  the  restless  fit  comes  on 
sometimes,  and  I  feel  as  if  I  must  cut  away  somewhere. 
Born  so,  and  can't  help  it.  Maybe  I  could,  if  I  had 
something  to  anchor  me ;  but,  as  you  say,  *  Nobody 
would  care  much  if  I  was  in  the  river,'  and  that's  bad 
for  a  chap  like  me." 

"  Sally  would  care,"  said  the  girl,  quite  soberly ;  for 
she  sympathized  now  with  the  man's  loneliness  as  she 
could  not  have  done  two  years  ago. 

"  So  she  would ;  but  I'll  take  her  with  me  when  I 
leave  —  not  for  the  river,  mind  you.  I'm  in  no  danger 
of  that  nonsense  now.  But,  if  I  go  on  a  tramp  (and  I 
may,  if  the  fit  gets  too  strong  for  me),  she  shall  go  too ; 
and  we'll  be  Dick  Whittington  and  his  cat  over  again." 

He  spoke  in  a  devil-may-care  tone,  and  patted  the 
plump  Tabby  with  a  curious  mixture  of  boyish  reck 
lessness  and  a  man's  sad  knowledge  of  life  in  his  face. 

"  Don't  go,"  pleaded  Letty,  feeling  that  she  had  a 
jertain  responsibility  in  the  matter.  "I  should  mind, 
is  well  as  Sally ;  for,  if  Aunt  Liddy  and  I  helped  put 
rou  in  a  good  way,  it  would  be  a  disappointment  to 
"lave  you  go  wrong.  Please  stop  here,  and  I'll  try  and 
come  to  see  you  work  some  day,  if  I  can  get  time. 
I'm  likely  to  have  plenty  of  it,  I'm  afraid." 

She  began  eagerly,  but  ended  with  a  despondent 
droop  of  the  whole  figure,  that  made  her  new  friend 
forget  himself  in  interest  for  her. 

"  I'll  stop,  honor  bright.     And  you  come  and  look 


196  LETTY'S    TRAMP. 

after  me  now  and  then.  That'll  keep  me  steady.  See 
if  it  don't.  But  tell  me  how  you  are  getting  on  ? 
Little  down  on  your  luck  just  now,  I  guess?  Come, 
I've  told  my  story,  you  tell  yours,  and  maybe  I  can 
lend  a  hand.  I  owe  you  a  good  turn,  you  know ;  and 
I'm  one  that  likes  to  pay  his  debts,  if  he  can." 

"  You  did  pay  yours ;  but  I  never  got  the  letter,  for 
I  came  away  after  Aunty  died.  You  see  I  wasn't  her 
own  niece,  —  only  sort  of  a  distant  relation ;  and  she 
took  me  because  my  own  people  were  gone.  Her  son 
had  all  she  left,  —  it  wasn't  much ;  and  she  told  him  to 
be  good  to  me.  But  I  soon  saw  that  I  was  a  burden, 
and  couldn't  bear  to  stay.  So  I  went  away,  to  take 
care  of  myself.  I  liked  it  at  first;  but  this  winter, 
times  are  so  hard  and  work  so  scarce,  I  don't  get  on 
at  all." 

"  What  do  you  do,  miss  ?  "  asked  Whittington,  with 
added  respect ;  because  in  her  shabby  dress  and  altered 
face  he  read  the  story  of  a  struggle  Letty  was  too 
proud  to  tell. 

"  I  sew,"  she  answered  briefly,  smoothing  out  her  wet 
shawl  with  a  hand  so  thin  and  small  it  was  pathetic  to 
see,  when  one  remembered  that  nothing  but  a  needle 
in  those  slender  fingers  kept  want  and  sin  at  bay. 

The  kindly  fellow  seemed  to  feel  that ;  and,  as  his 
BJ  e  went  from  his  own  strong  right  arm  to  the  sledge 
hammer  it  often  swung,  the  instinct  of  protection  so 
keen  in  manly  men  made  him  long  to  stand  between 
poor  Letty  and  the  hard  world  he  knew  so  well.  The 
magnetism  of  sympathy  irresistibly  attracted  iron  to 
steel,  while  little  needle  felt  assured  that  big  hammer 
would  be  able  to  beat  down  many  of  the  obstacles 


LETTY'S    TRAMP.  197 

now  seemed  insurmountable,  if  she  only  dared 
to  ask  for  aid.  But  help  came  without  the  asking. 

"Been  aftei  work,  you  say?  Why,  we  could  give 
you  heaps  of  it,  if  you  don't  mind  it's  being  coarse  and 
plain.  This  sort  of  thing,  you  know,"  touching  his  red 
shirt  with  a  business-like  air.  "  Our  men  use  'em  alto 
gether,  and  like  'em  strong  in  the  seams.  Some  ain't, 
and  buttons  fly  off  just  looking  at  'em.  That  makes  a 
fellow  mad,  and  swearing  comes  easy." 

But  Letty  shook  her  head,  though  she  couldn't  heip 
smiling  at  his  sober  way  of  explaining  the  case  and  its 
sad  consequences. 

"  I've  tried  that  work,  and  it  doesn't  pay.  Six  cents 
for  a  shirt,  and  sometimes  only  four,  isn't  enough  to  earn 
one's  board  and  clothes  and  fire,  even  if  one  made  half 
a  dozen  a  day.  You  can't  get  them  for  that,  and  some 
body  grows  rich  while  we  starve. 

"  Hanged  if  I  ever  buy  another !  See  here,  you  make 
me  enough  for  a  year,  and  we'll  have  a  fair  bargain 
between  us.  That  is,  if  you  can't  do  better  and  don't 
mind,"  he  added,  suddenly  abating  his  warmth  and 
looking  almost  bashful  over  the  well-meant  proposal. 

"  I'd  love  to  do  it.  Only  you  mustn't  pay  too  much," 
said  Letty,  glad  of  any  thing  to  keep  her  hands  and 
thoughts  busy,  for  life  was  very  bare  and  cold  just 
then. 

"  All  right.  I'll  see  to  it  directly,  and  nobody  be  the 
wiser,"  returned  her  new  employer,  privately  resolving 
to  order  a  bale  of  red  flannel  on  the  morrow,  and  pay 
fabulous  prices  for  the  work  of  the  little  friend  who  had 
once  kept  him  from  worse  than  starvation. 

It  was  not  much  to  offer,  and  red  flannel  was  not  a 


198  LETTY'S    TRAMP. 

romantic  subject  of  conversation  ;  but  something  in  the 
prompt  relief  and  the  hearty  good-will  of  the  man  went 
to  Letty's  heart,  already  full  to  overflowing  with  many 
cares  and  troubles.  She  tried  to  thank  him,  but  could 
only  cover  up  her  face  and  sob.  It  was  so  sweet  and 
comfortable  to  find  any  one  who  cared  enough  for  her 
to  lift  her  out  of  the  slough  of  despond,  which  was  to 
her  as  dangerous  a  mood  as  the  desperate  one  he  had 
known.  There  were  hands  enough  to  beckon  the  win 
some  creature  to  the  wrong  side  of  the  quagmire,  where 
so  many  miss  the  stepping-stones ;  but  she  felt  that  this 
was  the  right  side,  and  the  hand  an  honest  one,  though 
rough  and  grimy  with  hard  work.  So  the  tears  were 
glad  and  grateful  tears,  and  she  let  them  flow,  melting 
the  fatal  frost  that  had  chilled  her  hope  and  faith  in 
God  and  man. 

But  the  causer  of  them  could  not  bear  the  sight,  for 
the  contrast  between  this  forlorn  girl  and  the  blithe, 
blooming  Letty  of  that  memorable  day  was  piteous. 
Manlike,  he  tried  to  express  his  sympathy  in  deeds  as 
well  as  words,  and,  hastily  filling  a  tin  cup  from  the 
coffee-can,  pressed  it  upon  her  with  a  fatherly  stroke  of 
the  bent  head  and  a  soothing,  — 

"  Now,  my  dear,  just  take  a  sip  of  this,  and  don't  cry 
any  more.  WV11  straighten  things  out.  So  cheer  up, 
and  let  me  lend  a  hand  anywhere,  anyhow." 

But  hunger  and  fear,  weariness  and  cold,  had  been 
too  much  for  poor  Letty ;  and,  in  the  act  of  lifting  up 
her  wet  face  to  thank  him,  the  light  left  her  eyes,  and 
she  would  have  slipped  to  the  ground,  if  he  had  not 
caught  her. 

In  a  minute  she  was  herself  again,  lying  on  the  old 


i.ETTY'S    TRAMP.  199 

rug,  with  snow  upon  her  forehead  and  some  one  fanning 
her  with  a  newspaper. 

"  I  thought  I  was  going  to  die,"  she  whispered,  look 
ing  about  her  in  a  dazed  sort  of  way. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it !  You're  going  to  sleep.  That's 
what  you  want,  and  old  Sally's  going  to  sit  by  while 
you  do  it.  It's  a  hardish  pillow ;  but  I've  put  ray  hand 
kerchief  over  it,  and,  being  Monday,  its  spick-and-span 
clean." 

Letty  smiled  as  she  turned  her  cheek  to  the  faded 
silk  handkerchief  laid  over  the  rolled-up  coat  under  her 
head,  for  Pussy  was  nestling  close  beside  her,  as  if  her 
presence  was  both  a  comfort  and  defence.  Yet  the 
girl's  eyes  filled  even  while  she  smiled,  for,  when  most 
desolate,  a  friend  had  been  raised  up  to  her ;  and,  though 
the  face  bending  over  her  was  dark  and  shaggy,  there 
was  no  fear  in  her  own,  as  she  said  half-appealingly, 
half-confidingly,  — 

"  I  don't  believe  I  could  go  if  I  tried,  I'm  so  worn  out. 
But  you'll  take  care  of  me,  and  in  the  morning  show 
me  the  way  home  ?  " 

"Please  God,  I  will!"  he  answered,  as  solemnly  as  if 
taking  an  oath,  adding,  as  he  stepped  back  to  the  stool 
she  had  left:  "I  shall  stay  here  and  read  my  paper. 
Nothing  shall  scare  you ;  so  make  yourself  comfortable, 
and  drop  off  with  an  easy  mind." 

Sitting  there,  he  saw  her  lay  her  hands  together,  as 
il  she  said  some  little  prayer;  then,  turning  her  face 
from  the  light,  she  fell  asleep,  lulled  by  the  drowsy 
purr  of  the  humble  friend  to  whom  she  clung  even  in 
her  dreams.  He  only  looked  a  minute,  for  something 
that  was  neither  the  shimmer  of  firelight  nor  the  glitter 


200  LETTY'S    TRAMP. 

of  snow-dust  made  the  quiet  group  dance  mistily  before 
his  eyes ;  and,  forgetting  his  paper,  he  fell  to  drying 
Letty's  hat. 

It  was  both  comical  and  pleasant  to  see  how  tenderly 
he  touched  the  battered  thing,  with  what  interest  he"1 
surveyed  it,  perched  on  his  big  hand,  and  how  carefully 
he  smoothed  out  the  ribbons,  evidently  much  bewildered 
as  to  which  was  the  front  and  which  the  back.  Giving 
up  the  puzzle,  he  hung  it  on  the  handle  of  the  great 
hammer,  and,  leaning  his  chin  on  his  hand,  began  to 
build  castles  in  the  air  and  watch  the  red  embers,  as  if 
he  saw  in  them  some  vision  of  the  future  that  was  very 
pleasant. 

Hour  after  hour  struck  from  the  city  clocks  across 
the  river ;  the  lantern  burned  itself  out,  un trimmed ;  the 
storm  died  away ;  and  a  soft,  white  silence  followed  the 
turmoil  of  the  night.  Still  Letty  slept  like  a  tired  child 
still  old  Sally,  faithful  to  her  trust,  lay  in  the  circle  ot 
the  girl's  arm ;  and  still  the  watchman  sat  before  the 
fire,  dreaming  waking  dreams,  as  he  had  often  done 
before ;  but  never  any  half  so  earnest,  sweet,  and  hope 
ful  as  those  that  seemed  to  weave  a  tender  romance 
about  the  innocent  sleeper,  to  whom  he  was  loyally 
paying  a  debt  of  gratitude  with  such  poor  hospitality 
as  he  could  show. 

Dawn  came  up  rosy  and  clear  along  the  east ;  and  the 
first  level  ray  of  wintry  sunlight,  as  it  struck  across  the 
foundry  walls,  fell  on  Letty's  placid  face,  with  the  bright 
hair  shining  like  a  halo  round  it. 

Feeling  very  much  as  if  he  had  entertained  an  angel 
unaware,  the  man  stood  enjoying  the  pretty  picturej 
hesitating  to  wake  her,  yet  fearing  that  a  gruff  hallo 


LETTY'S    TRAMP. 

/ 

from  old  Sam  might  do  it  too  suddenly.  Somehow  he 
hated  to  have  her  go ;  for  the  gloomy  foundry  seemed 
an  enchanted  sort  of  place  this  morning,  with  a  purer 
heaven  and  earth  outside,  and  within  the  "little  mate" 
whom  he  felt  a  strong  desire  to  keep  "  always  along 
side,"  for  something  better  than  luck's  sake. 

He  was  smiling  to  himself  over  the  thought,  yet  half 
ashamed  to  own  how  it  had  grown  and  strengthened  in 
a  night,  when  Letty  opened  wide  a  pair  of  eyes  full  of  the 
peace  sleep  brings  and  the  soft  lustre  that  comes  after 
tears.  Involuntarily  the  man  drew  back,  and  waited 
silently  for  her  to  speak.  She  looked  bewildered  for  a 
moment,  then  remembered,  and  sprang  up,  full  of  the 
relief  and  fresh  gratitude  that  came  with  her  first  wak 
ing  thought. 

"  How  long  I've  slept !  How  very  kind  you  were  to 
me !  I  can  go  now,  if  you  will  start  me  right." 

"  You  are  heartily  welcome  !  I  can  take  you  home 
at  once,  unless  you'd  rather  wait  for  Sam,"  he  answered, 
with  a  quick  look  toward  the  door,  as  if  already  jealous 
of  the  venerable  Samuel. 

"  Fd  rather  go  before  any  one  comes.  But  perhaps 
you  ought  not  to  leave  yet  ?  I  wouldn't  like  to  take 
you  from  your  duty,"  began  Letty,  looking  about  her 
for  her  hat. 

"  Duty  be  —  hanged !  I'm  going  to  see  you  safe  home, 
ii  you'll  let  me.  Here's  your  hat.  I  dried  it ;  but  it 
don't  look  quite  shipshape  somehow."  And  taking  the 
shabby  little  object  from  the  nail  where  it  hung,  he 
presented  it  with  such  respectful  care  that  a  glimmer 
of  the  old  mirth  fulness  came  into  Letty's  face,  as  she 
said,  surveying  it  with  much  disfavor,  — 


202  LETTT'S    TRAXP. 

\ 

"  It  is  almost  as  bad  as  the  one  I  gave  you ;  but  it 
must  do." 

"  I've  got  that  old  thing  up  at  my  place  now.  Keep 
it  for  luck.  Wish  I  had  one  for  you.  Hold  on !  Here's 
a  tippet  —  nice  and  warm.  Have  it  for  a  hood.  You'll 
find  it  cold  outside.' 

He  was  so  intent  on  making  her  comfortable  that 
Letty  could  not  refuse,  and  tied  on  the  tippet,  while  he 
refilled  the  cup  with  hot  coffee,  carefully  saved  for  her. 

"Little  Red  Riding  Hood!  Blest  if  you  ain't!" 
he  exclaimed  admiringly,  as  he  turned  to  her  again, 
and  saw  the  sweet  face  in  its  new  head-gear. 

"  But  you  are  not  the  wolf,"  she  answered,  with  a  smile 
like  sunshine,  bending  to  drink  from  the  cup  he  held. 

As  she  lifted  her  head,  the  blue  eyes  and  the  black 
exchanged  again  the  subtle  glance  of  sympathy  that 
made  them  friends  before;  only  now  the  blue  onea 
looked  up  full  of  gratitude,  and  the  black  ones  looked 
down  soft  with  pity.  Neither  spoke ;  but  Letty  stooped, 
and,  gathering  old  Sally  in  her  arms,  kissed  the  friendly 
creature,  then  followed  her  guide  to  the  door. 

"  How  beautiful ! "  she  cried,  as  the  sun  came  dazzling 
down  upon  the  snow,  that  hid  all  dark  and  ugly  things 
with  a  veil  of  purity. 

"Looks  kind  of  bridal,  don't  it?"  said  the  man, 
taking  a  long  breath  of  the  frosty  air,  and  straightening 
himself  up,  as  if  anxious  to  look  his  best  by  daylight. 

He  never  had  looked  better,  in  spite  of  the  old  coat 
and  red  shirt;  for  the  glow  of  the  furnace-fire  still 
seemed  to  touch  his  brown  face,  the  happy  visions  oi 
the  night  still  shone  in  his  eyes,  and  the  protective 
kindliness  of  a  generous  nature  gave  dignity  to  the 


LETTY'S    TRAMP.  '203 

rough  figure,  as  he  strode  into  the  snow  and  stretched 
his  hand  to  Letty,  saying  cheerily,  — 

"Pretty  deep,  but  hold  on  to  me,  and  I'll  get 
you  through.  Better  take  ray  hand;  I  washed  it 
a-purpose." 

Letty  did  take  it  in  both  her  little  ones ;  and  they  went 
away  together  through  the  deserted  streets,  feeling  as  if 
they  were  the  only  pair  alive  in  the  still  white  world 
that  looked  so  lovely  in  the  early  sunshine. 

The  girl  was  surprised  to  find  how  short  the  way 
seemed ;  for,  in  spite  of  drifts,  she  got  on  bravely,  with 
a  strong  arm  to  help  and  a  friendly  voice  to  encourage 
her.  Yet  when  she  reached  the  last  corner  she  stopped, 
and  said,  with  a  sudden  shyness  which  he  understood 
and  liked,  — 

"  I'd  best  go  on  alone  now.  But  I'm  very  grateful 
to  you  !  Please  tell  me  your  name.  I'd  love  to  k  ,ow 
who  my  friend  is,  though  I  never  shall  forge'  ria 
kindness." 

"Nor  I  yours.  Joe  Stone  is  my  name.  Btf  I'd 
rather  you  called  me  your  tramp  till  we  get  something 
better,"  he  answered,  with  a  laugh  in  his  eyes,  as  he 
bent  toward  her  for  a  hearty  shake  of  the  slender  hand 
that  had  grown  warm  in  his. 

"  I  will !  Good-by,  good-by ! "  And,  suddenly  re 
membering  how  they  parted  before,  Letty  blushed 
like  a  rose,  and  ran  away  as  fast  as  the  drifts  would 
let  her. 

u  And  I'll  call  you  my  Letty  some  day,  if  I'm  not 
much  mistaken,"  Joe  said  to  himself,  with  a  decided 
nod,  as  he  went  back  to  the  foundry,  feeling  that  the 
world  looked  more  "  sort  of  bridal "  than  ever 


204  LETTI'S    TRAMP. 

He  was  not  mistaken ;  for,  when  spring  budded,  hit 
dream  came  true,  and  in  the  little  sewing-girl,  who 
bound  him  with  a  silken  thread  so  soft  and  strong  it 
never  broke,  he  found  an  anchor  that  held  him  fast  to 
happiness  and  home.  To  Letty  something  wonderful 
happened  at  last.  The  prince  came  when  most  she 
needed  him  ;  and,  though  even  when  the  beggar's  ragb 
fell  off  his  only  crown  was  the  old  hat,  his  royal  robes 
red  flannel  and  fustian,  his  sceptre  a  sledge-hammer, 
fihe  knew  and  loved  him,  for 

"  The  man  was  a  man  for  a'  that." 


SCARLET    STOCKINGS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
HOW  THEY  WALKED  INTO  LENNOX'S  LIFE 


out  for  a  drive,  Harry?" 
"  Too  cold." 

"  Have  a  game  of  billiards  ?  " 

"Too  tired." 

"  Go  and  call  on  the  Fairchilds  ?  " 

"Having  an  unfortunate  prejudice  against  country 
girls,  I  respectfully  decline." 

"  What  will  you  do,  then  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  thank  you." 

And,  settling  himself  more  luxuriously  upon  the 
couch,  Lennox  closed  his  eyes,  and  appeared  to  slum 
ber  tranquilly.  Kate  shook  her  head,  and  stood  re 
garding  her  brother  despondently,  till  a  sudden  idea 
made  her  turn  toward  the  window,  exclaiming  ab 
ruptly,  — 

"  Scarlet  stockings,  Harry  !  " 

tf  Where  ?  "  and,  as  if  the  words  were  a  spell  to  break 
the  deepest  day-dream,  Lennox  hurried  to  the  window, 
with  an  unusual  expression  of  interest  in  his  listless 
face. 

"  I  thought  that  would  succeed  !     She  isn't  there,  but 


SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

I've  got  you  up,  and  you  are  not  to  go  down  again," 
laughed  Kate,  taking  possession  of  the  sofa. 

"•  Not  a  bad  manosuvre.  I  don't  mind :  it's  about 
time  for  the  one  interesting  event  of  the  day  to  occur, 
eo  I'll  watch  for  myself,  thank  you,"  and  Lennox  took 
the  easy  chair  by  the  window  with  a  shrug  and  a  yawn. 

"  I'm  glad  any  thing  does  interest  you."  said  Kate, 
petulantly.  "  I  don't  think  it  amounts  to  much,  for, 
though  you  perch  yourself  at  the  window  every  day 
to  see  that  girl  pass,  you  don't  care  enough  about  it  to 
ask  her  name." 

"  I've  been  waiting  to  be  told." 

"It's  Belle  Morgan,  the  doctor's  daughter,  and  my 
dearest  friend." 

"Then,  of  course,  she  is  a  blue-belle?" 

"Don't  try  to  be  witty  or  sarcastic  with  her,  for  she 
will  beat  you  at  that." 

"  Not  a  dumb-belle,  then  ?  " 

"  Quite  the  reverse :  she  talks  a  good  deal,  and  very 
well,  too,  when  she  likes." 

"  She  is  very  pretty :  has  anybody  the  right  to  call 
her  '  Ma  belle '  ?  " 

"  Many  would  be  glad  to  do  so,  but  she  won't  have 
any  thing  to  say  to  them." 

"A  Canterbury  belle,  in  every  sense  of  the  word, 
then?" 

"  She  might  be,  for  all  Canterbury  loves  her ;  but  she 
isn't  fashionable,  and  has  more  friends  among  the  poor 
than  among  the  rich." 

"Ah,  I  see,  a  diving-bell,  who  knows  how  to  go 
down  into  a  sea  of  troubles,  and  bring  up  the  pearls 
worth  having." 


HOW  THEY  WALKED,   ETC.  ^07 

"  I'll  tell  her  that,  it  will  please  her.  You  are  really 
waking  up,  Harry,"  and  Kate  smiled  approvingly  upon 
him. 

"This  page  of 'Belle's  Life'  is  rather  amusing,  so 
read  away,"  said  Lennox,  glancing  up  the  street,  as  if 
he  awaited  the  appearance  of  the  next  edition  with 
pleasure. 

"  There  isn't  much  to  tell ;  she  is  a  nice,  bright,  en 
ergetic,  warm-hearted  dear ;  the  pride  of  the  doctor's 
heart,  and  a  favorite  with  every  one,  though  she  is 
odd." 

"How  odd?" 

"  Does  and  says  what  she  likes,  is  very  blunt  and 
honest,  has  ideas  and  principles  of  her  own,  goes  to 
parties  in  high  dresses,  won't  dance  round  dances,  and 
wears  red  stockings,  though  Mrs.  Plantagenet  says  it's 
fast." 

"Rather  a  jolly  little  person,  I  fancy.  Why  haven't 
we  met  her  at  some  of  the  tea-fights  and  muffin-worries 
we've  been  to  lately  ?  " 

"It  may  make  you  angry,  but  it  will  do  you  good, 
so  I'll  tell.  She  didn't  care  enough  about  seeing  the 
distinguished  stranger  to  come ;  that's  the  truth." 

"  Sensible  girl,  to  spare  herself  hours  of  mortal  dul- 
ness,  gossip,  and  dyspepsia,"  was  the  placid  reply. 

"  She  has  seen  you,  though,  at  church,  and  dawdling 
about  town,  and  she  called  you  '  Sir  Charles  Cold- 
stream.'  on  the  spot.  How  does  that  suit?"  asked 
Kate,  maliciously. 

"  Not  bad ;  I  rather  like  that.  Wish  she'd  call  some 
day,  and  stir  us  up." 

*'  She  won't ;  I  asked  her,  but  she  said  she  was  very 


208  SCARLET  STOCKINUb. 

busy,  and  told  Jessy  Tudor  she  wasn't  fond  of  pea 
cocks." 

"  I  don't  exactly  see  the  connection." 

"  Stupid  boy !  she  meant  you,  of  course." 

"  Oh,  I'm  peacocks,  arn  I  ?  " 

"  I  don't  wish  to  be  rude,  but  I  really  do  think  you 
are  vain  of  your  good  looks,  elegant  accomplishments, 
and  the  impression  you  make  wherever  you  go.  When 
it's  worth  while,  you  exert  yourself,  and  are  altogether 
fascinating;  but  the4 1  come-see-and-conquer '  air  you 
put  on  spoils  it  all  for  sensible  people." 

"  It  strikes  me  that  Miss  Morgan  has  slightly  infected 
you  with  her  oddity,  as  far  as  bhmtness  goes.  Fire 
away!  it's  rather  amusing  to  be  abused  when  one  is 
dying  of  ennui." 

"  That's  grateful  and  complimentary  to  me,  when  1 
have  devoted  myself  to  you  ever  since  you  came.  But 
every  thing  bores  you,  and  the  only  sign  of  interest 
you've  shown  is  in  those  absurd  red  hose.  I  should 
like  to  know  what  the  charm  is,"  said  Kate,  sharply. 

"  Impossible  to  say ;  accept  the  fact  calmly  as  I  do, 
and  be  grateful  that  there  is  one  glimpse  of  color,  life, 
and  spirit  in  this  aristocratic  tomb  of  a  town." 

"  You  are  not  obliged  to  stay  in  it ! "  fiercely. 

"  Begging  your  pardon,  ray  dove,  but  I  am.  I  prom- 
bed  to  give  you  my  enlivening  society  for  a  month,  and 
a  Lennox  keeps  his  word,  even  at  the  cost  of  his  life." 

"  I'm  sorry  I  asked  such  a  sacrifice ;  but  I  innocently 
thought  that,  after  being  away  for  five  long  years,  you 
might  care  to  see  your  orphan  sister,"  and  the  dove 
produced  her  handkerchief  with  a  plaintive  sniff. 

u  Now,  my  dear  creature*,  don't  be  melodramatic,  I 


HOW   THEY   WALKED,   ETC.  209 

beg  of  you ! "  cried  her  brother,  imploringly.  "  I  wished 
to  come,  I  pined  to  embrace  you,  and,  I  give  you  my 
word,  I  don't  blame  you  for  the  stupidity  of  this  con 
founded  place." 

"It  never  was  so  gay  as  since  you  came,  for  every 
one  has  tried  to  make  it  pleasant  for  you,"  cried  Kate, 
ruffled  at  his  indifference  to  the  hospitable  efforts  Df 
herself  and  friends.  "  But  you  don't  care  for  any  of 
our  simple  amusements,  because  you  are  spoilt  by  the 
flattery,  gayety,  and  nonsense  of  foreign  society.  If  I 
didn't  know  it  was  half  affectation,  I  should  be  in  de 
spair,  you  are  so  blase  and  absurd.  It's  always  the 
way  with  men :  if  one  happens  to  be  handsome,  accom 
plished,  and  talented,  he  puts  on  as  many  airs,  and  is 
as  vain  as  any  silly  girl." 

"  Don't  you  think  if  you  took  breath  you'd  get  on 
faster,  my  dear  ?  "  asked  the  imperturbable  gentleman, 
as  Kate  paused  with  a  gasp. 

"  I  know  it's  useless  for  me  to  talk,  as  you  don't  care 
a  straw  what  I  say ;  but  it's  true,  and  some  day  you'll 
wish  you  had  done  something  worth  doing  all  these 
years.  I  was  so  proud  of  you,  so  fond  of  you,  that  I 
can't  help  being  disappointed  to  find  you  with  no  more 
ambition  than  to  kill  time  comfortably,  no  interest  in 
any  thing  but  your  own  pleasures,  and  only  energy 
enough  to  amuse  yourself  with  a  pair  of  scarlet 
stockings." 

Pathetic  as  poor  Kate's  face  and  voice  were,  it  waa 
impossible  to  help  laughing  at  the  comical  conclusion 
of  her  lament.  Lennox  tried  to  hide  the  smile  on  hia 
lips  by  affecting  to  curl  his  moustache  with  care,  and  to 
gaze  pensively  out  as  if  touched  by  her  appeal.  But 

14 


210  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

he  wasn't,  —  oh,  bless  you,  no !  she  was  only  his  sister, 
and,  though  she  might  have  talked  with  the  wisdom 
of  Solomon  and  the  eloquence  of  Demosthenes,  it 
wouldn't  have  done  a  particle  of  good.  Sisters  do 
very  well  to  work  for  one,  to  pet  one,  and  play  confi 
dante  when  one's  love  affairs  need  feminine  wit  to  con 
duct  them ;  but  when  they  begin  to  reprove,  or  criticise, 
or  moralize,  it  won't  do,  and  can't  be  allowed,  of  course. 
Lennox  never  snubbed  anybody,  but  blandly  extin 
guished  them  by  a  polite  acquiescence  in  all  their 
affirmations,  for  the  time  being,  and  then  went  on  in 
his  own  way  as  if  nothing  had  been  said. 

"  I  dare  say  you  are  right ;  I'll  go  and  think  over 
your  very  sensible  advice,"  and,  as  if  roused  to  un 
wonted  exertion  by  the  stings  of  an  accusing  con 
science,  he  left  the  room  abruptly. 

"  I  do  believe  I've  made  an  impression  at  last !  He's 
actually  gone  out  to  think  over  what  I've  said.  Dear 
Harry,  I  was  sure  he  had  a  heart,  if  one  only  knew 
how  to  get  at  it!"  and  with  a  sigh  of  satisfaction  Kate 
went  to  the  window  to  behold  the  "  Dear  Harry  "  going 
briskly  down  the  street  after  a  pair  of  scarlet  stockings. 
A  spark  of  anger  kindled  in  her  eyes  as  she  watched 
him,  and  when  he  vanished  she  still  stood  knitting  her 
brows  in  deep  thought,  for  a  grand  idea  was  dawning 
upon  her. 

It  was  a  dull  town ;  no  one  could  deny  that,  for 
everybody  was  so  intensely  proper  and  well-born  that 
nobody  dared  to  be  jolly.  All  the  houses  were  square, 
aristocratic  mansions  with  Revolutionary  elms  in  front 
and  spacious  coach-houses  behind.  The  knockers  had 
a  supercilious  perk  to  their  bronze  or  brass  noses,  the 


HOW   THEY  WALKED,    ETC.  211 

dandelions  on  the  lawns  had  a  highly  connected  air, 
and  the  very  pigs  were  evidently  descended  from  "  our 
first  families."  Stately  dinner-parties,  decorous  dances, 
moral  picnics,  and  much  tea-pot  gossiping  were  the 
social  resources  of  the  place.  Of  course,  the  young 
people  flirted,  for-  that  diversion  is  apparently  irradi- 
cable  even  in  the  "  best  society,"  but  it  was  done  with 
a  propriety  which  was  edifying  to  behold. 

One  can  easily  imagine  that  such  a  starched  state  of 
things  would  not  be  particular!^  attractive  to  a  trav 
elled  young  gentleman  like  Lennox,  who,  as  Kate  very 
truly  said,  had  been  spoilt  by  the  flattery,  luxury,  and 
gayety  of  foreign  society.  He  did  his  best,  but  by  the 
end  of  the  first  week  ennui  claimed  him  for  its  own, 
and  passive  endurance  was  all  that  was  left  him.  From 
perfect  despair  he  was  rescued  by  the  scarlet  stockings, 
which  went  tripping  by  one  day  as  he  stood  at  the  win 
dow,  planning  some  means  of  escape. 

A  brisk,  blithe-faced  girl  passed  in  a  gray  walking 
suit  with  a  distracting  pair  of  high-heeled  boots  and 
glimpses  of  scarlet  at  the  ankle.  Modest,  perfectly  so, 
I  assure  you,  were  the  glimpses ;  but  the  feet  were  so 
decidedly  pretty  that  one  forgot  to  look  at  the  face 
appertaining  thereunto.  It  wasn't  a  remarkably  lovely 
face,  but  it  was  a  happy,  wholesome  one,  with  all  sorts 
of  good  little  dimples  in  cheek  and  chin,  sunshiny 
twinkles  in  the  black  eyes,  and  a  decided  yet  lovable 
look  about  the  mouth  that  was  quite  satisfactory.  A 
busy,  bustling  little  body  she  seemed  to  be,  for  sack- 
pockets  and  muff  were  full  of  bundles,  and  the  trim 
boots  tripped  briskly  over  the  ground,  as  if  the  girl's 
heart  were  as  light  as  her  heels.  Someho  <v  this  active, 


212  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

pleasant  figure  seemed  to  wake  up  the  whole  street, 
and  leave  a  streak  of  sunshine  behind  it,  for  every  one 
nodded  as  it  passed,  and  the  primmest  faces  relaxed 
into  smiles,  which  lingered  when  the  girl  had  gone. 

"Uncommonly  pretty  feet,  —  she  walks  well,  which 
American  girls  seldom  do,  —  all  waddle  or  prance, — • 
nice  face,  but  the  boots  are  French,  and  it  does  my 
heart  good  to  see  them." 

Lennox  made  these  observations  to  himself  as  the 
young  lady  approached,  nodded  to  Kate  at  another 
window,  gave  a  quick  but  comprehensive  glance  at 
himself  and  trotted  round  the  corner,  leaving  the  im 
pression  on  his  mind  that  a  whiff  of  fresh  spring  air 
had  blown  through  the  street  in  spite  of  the  December 
snow.  He  didn't  trouble  himself  to  ask  who  it  was, 
but  fell  into  the  way  of  lounging  in  the  bay-window  at 
about  three  P.M.,  and  watching  the  gray  and  scarlet 
figure  pass  with  its  blooming  cheeks,  bright  eyes,  and 
elastic  step.  Having  nothing  else  to  do,  he  took  to 
petting  this  new  whim,  and  quite  depended  on  the 
daily  stirring  up  which  the  sight  of  the  energetic  dam 
sel  gave  him.  Kate  saw  it  all,  but  took  no  notice  till 
the  day  of  the  little  tiff  above  recorded ;  after  that 
she  was  as  soft  as  a  summer  sea,  and  by  some  clever 
stroke  had  Belle  Morgan  to  tea  that  very  week. 

Lennox  was  one  of  the  best-tempered  fellows  in  the 
world,  but  the  "  peacocks  "  did  rather  nettle  him,  because 
there  was  some  truth  in  the  insinuation ;  so  he  took  care 
to  put  on  no  airs  or  try  to  be  fascinating  in  the  presence 
of  Miss  Belle.  In  truth,  he  soon  forgot  himself  entirely, 
and  enjoyed  her  oddities  with  a  relish,  after  the  prim 
proprieties  of  the  other  young  ladies  who  had  simpered 


WHERE   THEY  LED  HIM  213 

and  sighed  before  him.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life 
the  "  Crusher,"  as  his  male  friends  called  him,  got 
crushed ;  for  Belle,  with  the  subtle  skill  of  a  quick 
witted,  keen-sighted  girl,  soon  saw  and  condemned  the 
elegant  affectations  which  others  called  foreign  polish. 
A  look,  a  word,  a  gesture  from  a  pretty  woman,  is  often 
more  eloquent  and  impressive  than  moral  essays  or  semi- 
occasional  twinges  of  conscience ;  and  in  the  presence  of 
one  satirical  little  person  Sir  Charles  Coldstream  soon 
ceased  to  deserve  the  name. 

Belle  seemed  to  get  over  her  hurry  and  to  find  time 
for  occasional  relaxation,  but  one  never  knew  in  what 
mood  he  might  find  her,  for  the  weathercock  was  not 
more  changeable  than  she.  Lennox  liked  that,  and 
found  the  muffin-worries  quite  endurable  with  this  sauce 
piquante  to  relieve  their  insipidity.  Presently  he  dis 
covered  that  he  was  suffering  for  exercise,  and  formed 
the  wholesome  habit  of  promenading  the  town  about 
three  P.M.  ;  Kate  said,  to  follow  the  scarlet  stockings. 


CHAPTER  II. 

WHERE   THEY  LED  HIM. 

"  WHITHER  away,  Miss  Morgan  ?  "  asked  Lennox,  as 
he  overtook  her  one  bitter  cold  day. 
"  I'm  taking  my  constitutional." 
"  So  am  I." 
u  With  a  difference,"  and  Belle  glanced  at  the  blue- 


214  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

nosed,  muffled-up  gentleman  strolling  along  beside  hef 
with  an  occasional  shiver  and  shrug. 

"  After  a  winter  in  the  south  of  France,  one  does  not 
find  arctic  weather  like  this  easy  to  bear,"  he  said,  with 
a  disgusted  air. 

"  I  like  it,  and  do  my  five  or  six  miles  a  day,  which 
seeps  me  in  what  fine  ladies  call '  rude  health,' "  answered 
Belle,  walking  him  on  at  a  pace  which  soon  made  his 
furs  a  burden. 

She  was  a  famous  pedestrian,  and  a  little  proud  of 
her  powers ;  but  she  outdid  all  former  feats  that  day, 
and  got  over  the  ground  in  gallant  style.  Something 
in  her  manner  put  her  escort  on  his  mettle ;  and  his  usual 
lounge  was  turned  into  a  brisk  march,  which  set  his 
blood  dancing,  face  glowing,  and  spirits  effervescing  as 
they  had  not  done  for  many  a  day. 

"  There !  you  look  more  like  your  real  self  now,"  said 
Belle,  with  the  first  sign  of  approval  she  had  ever  vouch 
safed  him,  as  he  rejoined  her  after  a  race  to  recover  her 
veil,  which  the  wind  whisked  away  over  hedge  and 
ditch. 

"Are  you  sure  you  know  what  my  real  self  is  ?"  he 
asked,  with  a  touch  of  the  "  conquering  hero  "  air. 

"Not  a  doubt  of  it.  I  always  know  a  soldier  when  I 
see  one,"  returned  Belle,  decidedly. 

"  A  soldier !  that's  the  last  thing  I  should  expect  to 
be  accused  of,"  and  Lennox  looked  both  surprised  and 
gratified. 

"  There's  a  flash  in  your  eye  and  a  ring  to  your  voice, 
occasionally,  which  made  me  suspect  that  you  had  fire 
and  energy  enough  if  you  only  chose  to  show  it,  and 
the  spirit  with  which  you  have  j  ust  executed  the  '  Mor- 


WHERE   THEY  LED  HTM.  216 

gan   Quickstep'   proves   that   I   was   right,"   returned 
Belle,  laughing. 

"Then  I  am  not  altogether  a  'peacock'?"  said  Len 
nox,  significantly,  for  during  the  chat,  which  had  been 
as  brisk  as  the  walk,  Belle  had  given  his  besetting  sins 
several  sly  hits,  and  he  couldn't  resist  one  return  shot, 
much  as  her  unexpected  compliment  pleased  him. 

Poor  Belle  blushed  up  to  her  forehead,  tried  to  look 
as  if  she  did  not  understand,  and  gladly  hid  her  confu 
sion  behind  the  recovered  veil  without  a  word. 

There  was  a  decided  display  both  of  the  "  flash  "  and 
the  "ring,"  as  Lennox  looked  at  the  suddenly  subdued 
young  lady,  and,  quite  satisfied  with  his  retaliation, 
gave  the  order,  "  Forward,  march ! "  which  brought 
them  to  the  garden-gate  breathless,  but  better  friends 
than  before. 

The  next  time  the  young  people  met,  Belle  was  in 
such  a  hurry  that  she  went  round  the  corner  with  an 
abstracted  expression  which  was  quite  a  triumph  of  art. 
Just  then,  off  tumbled  the  lid  of  the  basket  she  carried ; 
and  Lennox,  rescuing  it  from  a  puddle,  obligingly  helped 
readjust  it  over  a  funny  collection  of  bottles,  dishes,  and 
tidy  little  rolls  of  all  sorts. 

"It's  very  heavy,  mayn't  I  carry  it  for  you?"  he 
asked,  in  an  insinuating  manner. 

"  No,  thank  you,"  was  on  Belle's  lips ;  but,  observing 
that  he  was  dressed  with  unusual  elegance  to  pay  calls, 
she  couldn't  resist  the  temptation  of  making  a  beast  of 
burden  of  him,  and  took  him  at  his  word. 

"You  may,  if  you  like.     I've  got  more  bundles  to 
take  from  the  store,  and  another  pair  of  hands  won't 
.  come  amiss." 


216  SCARLET  SACKINGS. 

Lennox  lifted  his  eyebrows,  also  the  basket;  and 
they  went  on  again,  Belle  very  much  aosorbed  in  her 
business,  and  her  escort  wondering  where  she  was 
going  with  all  that  rubbish.  Filling  his  unoccupied 
hand  with  sundry  brown  paper  parcels,  much  to  the  det 
riment  of  the  light  glove  that  covered  it,  Belle  paraded 
him  down  the  main  street  before  the  windows  of  the 
most  aristocratic  mansions,  and  then  dived  into  a  dirty 
back-lane,  where  the  want  and  misery  of  the  town  was 
decorously  kept  out  of  sight. 

"  You  don't  mind  scarlet  fever,  I  suppose  ?  "  observed 
Belle,  as  they  approached  the  unsavory  residence  of 
Biddy  O'Brien. 

"Well,  I'm  not  exactly  partial  to  it,"  said  Lennox, 
rather  taken  aback. 

"  You  needn't  go  in  if  you  are  afraid,  or  speak  to  me 
afterwards,  so  no  harm  will  be  done  —  except  to  your 
gloves." 

"  Why  do  you  come  here,  if  I  may  ask  ?  It  isn't  the 
sort  of  amusement  I  should  recommend,"  he  began,  evi 
dently  disapproving  of  the  step. 

"  Oh,  I'm  used  to  it,  and  like  to  play  nurse  where 
father  plays  doctor.  I'm  fond  of  children  and  Mrs. 
O'Brien's  are  little  dears,"  returned  Belle,  briskly, 
threading  her  way  between  ash-heaps  and  mud-puddles 
as  if  bound  to  a  festive  scene. 

"Judging  from  the  row  in  there,  I  should  infer  that 
Mrs.  O'Brien  had  quite  a  herd  of  little  dears." 

"  Only  nine." 

"And  all  sick?" 

«  More  or  less." 

"  By  Jove !  it's  perfectly  heroic  in  you  to  visit  this 


WHERE   THEY  LED  HIM.  217 

hole  in  spite  of  dirt,  noise,  fragrance,  and  infection," 
cried  Lennox,  who  devoutly  wished  that  the  sense  of 
emell  if  not  of  hearing  were  temporarily  denied  him.  . 

"Bless  you,  it's  the  sort  of  thing  I  enjoy,  for  there's 
no  nonsense  here ;  the  work  you  do  is  pleasant  if  you 
do  it  heartily,  and  the  thanks  you  get  are  worth  having, 
[  assure  you." 

She  put  out  her  hand  to  relieve  him  of  the  basket, 
but  he  gave  it  an  approving  little  shake,  and  said 
briefly,  — 

"  Not  yet,  I'm  coming  in." 

It's  all  very  well  to  rhapsodize  about  the  exquisite 
pleasure  of  doing  good,  to  give  carelessly  of  one's 
abundance,  and  enjoy  the  delusion  of  having  remem 
bered  the  poor.  But  it  is  a  cheap  charity,  and  never 
brings  the  genuine  satisfaction  which  those  know  who 
give  their  mite  with  heart  as  well  as  hand,  and  truly 
love  their  neighbor  as  themselves.  Lennox  had  seen 
much  fashionable  benevolence,  and  laughed  at  it  even 
while  he  imitated  it,  giving  generously  when  it  wasn't 
inconvenient.  But  this  was  a  new  sort  of  thing  en 
tirely  ;  and  in  spite  of  the  dirt,  the  noise,  and  the  smells, 
he  forgot  the  fever,  and  was  glad  he  came  when  poor 
Mrs.  O'Brien  turned  from  her  sick  babies,  exclaiming, 
with  Irish  fervor  at  sight  of  Belle, — 

"  The  Lord  love  ye,  darlin,  for  remimberin  us  when 
ivery  one,  ban-in'  the  doctor,  and  the  praste,  turns  the 
cowld  shouldther  in  our  throuble ! " 

"  Now  if  you  really  want  to  help,  just  keep  this  cniid 

quiet   while   I   see   to   the    sickest   ones,"   said   Belle, 

dumping  a  stout  infant  on   to  his  knee,  thrusting  an 

.orange  into  his  hand,  and  leaving  him  aghast  while  sh« 


218  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

unpacked  her  little  messes,  and  comforted  the  maternx 
bird.  ) 

With  the  calmness  of  desperation,  her  aid-de-camp 
put  down  his  best  beaver  on  the  rich  soil  which  covered 
the  floor,  pocketed  his  gloves,  and,  making  a  bib  of 
his  cambric  handkerchief,  gagged  young  Pat  deliciously 
with  bits  of  orange  whenever  he  opened  his  mouth  to 
roar  At  her  first  leisure  moment,  Belle  glanced  at 
him  to  see  how  he  was  getting  on,  and  found  him  so 
solemnly  absorbed  in  his  task  that  she  went  off  into  a 
burst  of  such  infectious  merriment  that  the  O'Briens, 
sick  and  well,  joined  in  it  to  a  man. 

"  Good  fun,  isn't  it  ?  "  she  asked,  turning  down  her 
cuffs  when  the  last  spoonful  of  gruel  was  administered. 

"  I've  no  doubt  of  it,  when  one  is  used  to  the  thing. 
It  comes  a  little  hard  at  first,  you  know,"  returned 
Lennox,  wiping  his  forehead,  with  a  long  breath,  and 
seizing  his  hat  as  if  quite  ready  to  tear  himself  away. 

"  You've  done  very  well  for  a  beginner ;  so  kiss  the 
baby  and  come  home,"  said  Belle  approvingly. 

"  No,  thank  you,"  muttered  Lennox,  trying  to  detach 
the  bedaubed  innocent.  But  little  Pat  had  a  grateful 
heart,  and,  falling  upon  his  new  nurse's  neck  with  a 
rapturous  crow,  clung  there  like  a  burr. 

"  Take  him  off!  Let  me  out  of  this!  He's  one  too 
many  for  me ! "  cried  the  wretched  young  man  in  comic 
despair. 

Being  freed  with  much  laughter,  he  turned  and  fled, 
followed  by  a  shower  of  blessings  from  Mrs.  O'Brien. 

As  they  came  up  again  into  the  pleasant  highways, 
Lennox  said,  awkwardly  for  him, — 

"The  thanks  of  the  poor  are  excellent  things  to 


WHERE   THEY  LED  HIM.  219 

have,  but  I  think  I'd  rather  receive  them  by  pioxy. 
Will  you  kindly  spend  this  for  me  in  making  that  poor 
soul  comfortable?" 

But  Belle  wouldn't  take  what  he  offered  her;  she  put 
it  back,  saying  earnestly,  — 

"Give  it  yourself;  one  can't  buy  blessings,  —  they 
must  be  earned  or  they  are  not  worth  having.  Try  it, 
please,  and,  if  you  find  it  a  failure,  then  I'll  gladly  be 
your  almoner." 

There  was  a  significance  in  her  words  which  he  could 
not  fail  to  understand.  He  neither  shrugged,  drawled, 
nor  sauntered  now,  but  gave  her  a  look  in  which  re 
spect  and  self-reproach  were  mingled,  and  left  her, 
simply  saying,  "I'll  try  it,  Miss  Morgan." 

"  Now  isn't  she  odd  ?  "  whispered  Kate  to  her  brother, 
as  Belle  appeared  at  a  little  dance  at  Mrs.  Plantagenet's 
in  a  high-necked  dress,  knitting  away  on  an  army-sock, 
as  she  greeted  the  friends  who  crowded  round  her.. 

"Charmingly  so.  Why  don't  you  do  that  sort  of 
thing  when  you  can  ?  "  answered  her  brother,  glancing 
at  her  thin,  bare  shoulders,  and  hands  rendered  nearly 
useless  by  the  tightness  of  the  gloves. 

"  Gracious,  no !  It's  natural  to  her  to  do  so,  and  she 
carries  it  off  well;  I  couldn't,  therefore  I  don't  try, 
though  I  admire  it  in  her.  Go  and  ask  her  to  dan^ft, 
before  she  is  engaged." 

"  She  doesn't  dance  round  dances,  you  know." 

"  She  is  dreadfully  prim  about  some  things,  and  so 
free  and  easy  about  others :  I  can't  understand  it,  do 
you?" 

u  Well,  yes,  I  think  I  do.  Here's  Forbes  coming  for 
ypu,  I'll  go  and  entertain  Belle  by  a  quarrel." 


220  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

He  found  her  in  a  recess  out  of  the  way  of  the  rush 
ing  and  romping,  busy  with  her  work,  yet  evidently 
glad  to  be  amused. 

"  I  admire  your  adherence  to  principle,  Miss  Belle ; 
but  don't  you  find  it  a  little  hard  to  sit  still  while  your 
friends  are  enjoying  themselves?"  he  asked,  sinking 
luxuriously  into  the  lounging  chair  beside  her. 

"Yes,  very,"  answered  Belle  with  characteristic 
candor.  "  But  father  does  not  approve  of  that  sort  of 
exercise,  so  I  console  myself  with  something  useful  till 
my  chance  comes." 

"Your  work  can't  exactly  be  called  ornamental," 
said  Lennox,  looking  at  the  big  sock. 

"Don't  laugh  at  it,  sir;  it  is  for  the  foot  of  the  brave 
fellow  who  is  going  to  fight  for  me  and  his  country." 

"  Happy  fellow !  May  I  ask  who  he  is  ?  "  and  Lennox 
sat  up  with  an  air  of  interest. 

"  My  substitute :  I  don't  know  his  name,  for  father 
has  not  got  him  yet ;  but  I'm  making  socks,  and  towels, 
and  a  comfort-bag  for  him,  so  that  when  found  he  may 
be  off  at  once." 

"  You  really  mean  it  ?  "  cried  Lennox. 

"  Of  course  I  3o ;  I  can't  go  myself,  but  I  can  buy  a 
pair  of  strong  arms  to  fight  for  me,  and  I  intend  to  do 
it.  I  only  hope  ho'll  have  the  right  sort  of  courage,  and 
be  a  credit  to  me." 

"What  do  you  call  the  right  sort  of  courage?" 
asked  Lennox,  soberly. 

"  That  which  makes  a  man  ready  and  glad  to  live  or 
die  for  a  principle.  There's  a  chance  for  heroes  now, 
if  there  ever  was.  When  do  you  join  your  regiment?" 
she  added,  abruptly. 


WHERE    THEY  LED   HIM.  223 

*'  Haven't  the  least  idea,"  and  Lennox  subsided  again, 

u  But  you  intend  to  do  so,  of  course?" 

"Why  should  I?" 

Belle  dropped  her  work.  "  Why  should  you  ?  What 
a  question!  Because  you  have  health,  and  strength, 
and  courage,  and  money  to  help  on  the  good  cause,  and 
3 very  man  should  give  his  best,  and  not  dare  to  stay 
at  home  when  he  is  needed." 

"  You  forget  that  I  am  an  Englishman,  and  we  rather 
prefer  to  be  strictly  neutral  just  now." 

"  You  are  only  half  English ;  and  for  your  mother's 
sake  you  should  be  proud  and  glad  to  fight  for  the 
North,"  cried  Belle  warmly. 

"I  don't  remember  my  mother,  —  " 

"  That's  evident ! " 

"  But,  I  was  about  to  add,  I've  no  objection  to  lend  a 
hand  if  it  isn't  too  much  trouble  to  get  off,"  said  Lennox 
indifferently,  for  he  liked  to  see  Belle's  color  rise,  and 
her  eyes  kindle  while  he  provoked  her. 

"  Do  you  expect  to  go  South  in  a  bandbox  ?  You'd 
better  join  one  of  the  kid-glove  regiments ;  they  say 
the  dandies  fight  well  when  the  time  comes." 

"  I've  been  away  so  long,  the  patriotic  fever  hasn\ 
seized  me  yet ;  and,  as  the  quarrel  is  none  of  mine,  I 
think  perhaps  I'd  better  take  care  of  Kate,  and  let  you 
fight  it  out  among  yourselves.  Here's  the  Lancers, 
may  I  have  the  honor?  " 

But  Belle,  being  very  angry  at  this  lukewarmness, 
answered  in  her  bluntest  manner,  — 

"  Having  reminded  me  that  you  are  a  '  strictly  neu 
tral  '  Englishman,  you  must  excuse  me  if  I  decline ;  I 
/iance  only  with  loyal  Americans,"  and,  rolling  up  her 


«22  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

work  with  a  defiant  flourish,  she  walked  away,  leaving 
him  to  lament  his  loss  and  wonder  how  he  could  re 
trieve  it.  She  did  not  speak  to  him  again  till  he  stood 
in  the  hall  waiting  for  Kate ;  then  Belle  came  down  in 
a  charming  little  red  hood,  and  going  straight  up  to 
him  with  her  hand  out,  a  repentant  look  and  a  friendly 
smile,  said  frankly,  — 

"  I  was  very  rude ;  I  want  to  beg  pardon  of  the 
English,  and  shake  hands  with  the  American,  half." 

So  peace  was  declared,  and  lasted  unbroken  for  the 
remaining  week  of  his  stay,  when  he  proposed  to  take 
Kate  to  the  city  for  a  little  gayety.  Miss  Morgan 
openly  approved  the  plan,  but  secretly  felt  as  if  the 
town  was  about  to  be  depopulated,  and  tried  to  hide 
her  melancholy  in  her  substitute's  socks.  They  were 
riot  large  enough,  however,  to  absorb  it  all ;  and,  when 
Lennox  went  to  make  his  adieu,  it  was  perfectly  evi 
dent  that  the  Doctor's  Belle  was  out  of  tune.  The, 
young  gentleman  basely  exulted  over  this,  till  she  gave 
him  something  else  to  think  about  by  saying  gravely  : 

"  Before  you  go,  I  feel  as  if  I  ought  to  tell  you  some 
thing,  since  Kate  won't.  If  you  are  offended  about  it 
please  don't  blame  her;  she  meant  it  kindly, and  so  did 
1."  Belle  paused  as  if  it  was  not  an  easy  thing  to  tell^ 
and  then  went  on  quickly,  with  her  eyes  upon  her  work 

"  Three  weeks  ago  Kate  asked  me  to  help  her  in  » 
little  plot;  and  I  consented,  for  the  fun  of  the  thing 
She  wanted  something  to  amuse  and  stir  you  up,  and, 
finding  that  my  queer  ways  diverted  you,  she  begged 
me  to  be  neighborly  and  let  you  do  what  you  liked.  1 
didn't  care  particularly  about  amusing  you,  but  I  did 
think  you  needed  rousing;  so  for  her  sake  I  tried  to  do 


WHERE   THEY  LED   HIM.  223 

it,  and  you  \  ary  good-naturedly  bore  my  lecturing.  I 
don't  like  deceit  of  any  kind,  so  I  confess ;  but  I  can't 
say  I'm  sorry,  for  I  really  think  you  are  none  the  worse 
for  the  teasing  and  teaching  you've  had." 

Belle  didn't  see  him  flush  and  frown  as  she  made  her 
confession,  and  when  she  looked  up  he  only  said,  half 
gratefully,  half  reproachfully,  — 

"  I'm  a  good  deal  the  better  for  it,  I  dare  say,  and 
ought  to  be  very  thankful  for  your  friendly  exertions. 
But  two  against  one  was  hardly  fair,  now,  was  it?" 

"No,  it  was  sly  and  sinful  in  the  highest  degree,  but 
we  did  it  for  your  good ;  so  I  know  you'll  forgive  us, 
and  as  a  proof  of  it  sing  one  or  two  of  my  favorites  for 
Jie  last  time." 

"You  don't  deserve  any  favor;  but  I'll  do  it,  to 
show  you  how  much  more  magnanimous  men  are  than 
women." 

Not  at  all  loth  to  improve  his  advantages,  Lennox 
warbled  his  most  melting  lays  con  amore,  watching,  as 
he  sung,  for  any  sign  of  sentiment  in  the  girlish  face 
opposite.  But  Belle  wouldn't  be  sentimental ;  and  sat 
rattling  her  knitting-needles  industriously,  though  "  The 
Harbor  Bar  was  moaning  "  dolefully,  though  "  Douglas  " 
was  touchingly  "  tender  and  true,"  and  the  "  Wind  of 
the  Summer  Night "  sighed  romantically  through  the 
sitting-room. 

"  Much  obliged.  Must  you  go  ?  "  she  said,  without  a 
sign  of  soft  confusion  as  he  rose. 

"  I  must ;  but  I  shall  come  again  before  I  leave  the 
country.  May  I?"  he  asked,  holding  her  hand. 

"  If  you  come  in  a  uniform." 

"Good    night,    Belle,"    tenderly.  — "  Good-by,    Sir 


224  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

Charles,"  with    a  wicked   twinkle    of  the    eye,   which 
lasted  till  he  closed  the  hall-door,  growling  irefully,  — 

"  I  thought  I'd  had  some  experience,  but  one  never 
can  understand  these  women  !  " 

Canterbury  did  become  a  desert  to  Belle  after  her 
lear  friend  had  gone  (of  course  the  dear  friend's 
brother  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  desolation) ;  and  as 
the  weeks  dragged  slowly  Belle  took  to  reading  poetry, 
practising  plaintive  ballads,  and  dawdling  over  her 
work  at  a  certain  window  which  commanded  a  view  of 
the  railway  station  and  hotel. 

"  You're  dull,  my  dear ;  run  up  to  town  with  me  to 
morrow,  and  see  your  young  man  off,"  said  the  Doctor 
one  evening,  as  Belle  sat  musing  with  a  half-mended 
red  stocking  in  her  hand. 

.   "My  young  man?"  she  ejaculated,  turning  with  a 
start  and  a  blush. 

"Your  substitute,  child.  Stephens  attended  to  the 
business  for  me,  and  he's  off  to-morrow.  I  began  to 
tell  you  about  the  fellow  last  week,  but  you  were  wool 
gathering,  so  I  stopped." 

u  Yes,  I  remember,  it  was  all  very  nice.  Goes  to 
morrow,  does  he?  I'd  like  to  see  him;  but  do  you 
think  we  can  both  leave  home  at  once?  Some  one 
might  come  you  know,  and  I  fancy  it's  going  to  snow," 
said  Belle,  putting  her  face  behind  the  curtain  to  inspect 
the  weather. 

"  You'd  better  go,  the  trip  will  do  you  good ;  you  can 
take  your  things  to  Tom  Jones,  and  see  Kate  on  the 
way :  she's  got  back  from  Philadelphia." 

"  Has  she  ?  I'll  go,  then ;  it  will  please  her,  and  I  do 
need  change.  You  are  a  dear,  to  think  of  it ; "  and, 


WHERE   THEY  LED   HIM. 

giving  her  father  a  hasty  glimpse  of  a  suddenly  excited 
countenance,  Belle  slipped  out  of  the  room  to  prepare 
her  best  array,  with  a  m$>st  reckless  disregard  of  the 
impending  storm. 

It  did  not  snow  on  the  morrow,  and  up  they  went 
to  see  the — th  regiment  off.  Belle  did  not  see  "hoi- 
young  man,"  however,  for  while  her  father  went  to 
carry  him  her  comforts  and  a  patriotic 'nosegay  of  red 
and  white  flowers,  tied  up  with  a  smart  blue  ribbon, 
she  called  on  Kate.  But  Miss  Lennox  was  engaged, 
and  sent  an  urgent  Bequest  that  her  friend  would  call 
in  the  afternoon.  Much  disappointed  and  a  little  hurt, 
Belle  then  devoted  herself  to  the  departing  regiment, 
wishing  she  was  going  with  it,  for  she  felt  in  a  warlike 
mood.  It  was  past  noon  when  a  burst  of  martial  music, 
the  measured  tramp  of  many  feet,  and  enthusiastic 
cheers  announced  that  "  the  boys  "  were  coming.  From 
the  balcony  where  she  stood  with  her  father,  Belle 
looked  down  upon  the  living  stream  that  flowed  by  like 
a  broad  river,  with  a  steely  glitter  above  the  blue.  All 
her  petty  troubles  vanished  at  the  sight ;  her  heart  beat 
high,  her  face  glowed,  her  eyes  filled,  and  she  waved 
her  handkerchief  as  zealously  as  if  she  had  a  dozen 
friends  and  lovers  in  the  ranks  below. 

•'  Here  comes  your  man ;  I  told  him  to  stick  the  posy 
w  here  it  would  catch  my  eye,  so  I  could  point  him  out 
tu  you.  Look,  it's  the  tall  fellow  at  the  end  of  the  front 
line,"  said  the  Doctor  in  an  excited  tone,  as  he  pointed 
and  beckoned. 

Belle  looked  and  gave  a  little  cry,  for  there,  in  a 
private's  uniform,  with  her  nosegay  at  his  buttonhole, 
and  on  his  face  a  smile  she  never  forgot,  was  Lennox  1 

15 


226  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

For  an  instant  she  stood  staring  at  him  as  pale  and 
startled  as  if  he  were  a  ghost ;  then  the  color  rushed  in 
to  her  face,  she  kissed  both  hands  to  him,  and  cried 
bravely,  "  Good-by,  good-by ;  God  bless  you,  Harry !  " 
and  immediately  laid  her  head  on  her  father's  shoulder, 
sobbing  as  if  her  heart  was  broken. 

When  she  looked  up,  her  substitute  was  lost  in  the 
undulating  mass  below,  and  for  her  the  spectacle  was 
over. 

"Was  it  really  he?  Why  wasn't  I  told?  What 
does  it  all  mean  ?  "  she  demanded,  looking  bewildered, 
grieved,  and  ashamed. 

"  He's  really  gone,  my  dear.  It's  a  surprise  of  his, 
and  I  was  bound  over  to  silence.  Here,  this  will  ex 
plain  the  joke,  I  suppose,"  and  the  Doctor  handed  her 
a  cocked-hat  note,  done  up  like  a  military  order. 

"  A  Roland  for  your  Oliver,  Mademoiselle  !  I  came  home  for 
the  express  purp.ose  of  enlisting,  and  only  delayed  a  month  on 
Kate's  account.  If  I  ever  return,  I  will  receive  my  bounty  at 
your  hands.  Till  then  please  comfort  Kate,  think  as  kindly  as 
you  can  of  '  Sir  Charles/  and  sometimes  pray  a  little  prayer  for 

"  Your  unworthy 

"  Substitute." 

Belle  looked  very  pale  and  meek  when  she  put  the 
note  in  her  pocket,  but  she  only  said,  "  I  must  go  and 
comfort  Kate;"  and  the  Doctor  gladly  obeyed,  feeling 
that  the  joke  was  more  serious  than  he  had  imagined. 

The  moment  her  friend  appeared,  Miss  Lennox  turned 
on  her  tears,  and  "  played  away,"  pouring  forth,  lamenta 
tions,  reproaches,  and  regrets  in  a  steady  stream. 

"  I  hope  you  are  satisfied  now,  you  cruel  girl ! "  she 
began,  refusing  to  be  kissed.  "You've  sent  him  oft 


WHERE   THEY  LED  HIM.  227 

with  a  broken  heart  to  rush  into  danger  and  be  shot,  or 
get  his  arms  and  legs  spoiled.  You  know  he  loved  you 
and  wanted  to  tell  you  so,  but  you  wouldn't  let  him ; 
and  now  you've  driven  him  away,  and  he's  gone  as  an 
insignificant  private  with  his  head  shaved,  and  a  heavy 
knapsack  breaking  his  back,  and  a  horrid  gun  that  will 
be  sure  to  explode :  and  he  would  wear  those  immense 
blue  socks  you  sent,  for- he  adores  you,  and  you  only 
teased  and  laughed  at  him,  my  poor,  deluded,  deserted 
brother ! "  And,  quite  overwhelmed  by  the  afflicting 
picture,  Kate  lifted  up  her  voice  and  wept  again. 

"  I  am  satisfied,  for  he's  done  what  I  hoped  he  would ; 
and  he's  none  the  less  a  gentleman  because  he's  a  private 
and  wears  my  socks.  I  pray  they  will  keep  him  safe, 
and  bring  him  home  to  us  when  he  has  done  his  duty 
like  a  man,  as  I  know  he  will.  I'm  proud  of  my 
brave  substitute,  and  I'll  try  to  be  worthy  of  him,"  cried 
Belle,  kindling  beautifully  as  she  looked  out  into  the 
wintry  sunshine  with  a  new  softness  in  the  eyes  that 
still  seemed  watching  that  blue-coated  figure  marching 
away  to  danger,  perhaps  death. 

"  It's  ill  playing  with  edged  tools ;  we  meant  to  amuse 
him,  and  we  may  have  sent  him  to  destruction.  I'll 
never  forgive  you  for  your  part,  never!"  said  Kate, 
with  the  charming  inconsistency  of  her  sex. 

But  Belle  turned  away  her  wrath  by  a  soft  answer,  as 
she  whispered,  with  a  tender  choke  in  her  voice, — 

"We  both  loved  him,  dear;  let's  comfort  one  an 
other." 


228  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

CHAPTER  III. 

* 

WHAT  BECAME   OF  THEM. 

FEIVATE  Lennox  certainly  had  chosen  pretty  hard 
work,  for  the  — th  was  not  a  'Hkid-glove  "  regiment  by 
any  means ;  fighting  in  mid-winter  was  not  exactly  fes 
tive,  and  camps  do  not  abound  in  beds  of  roses  even  at 
the  best  of  times.  But  Belle  was  right  in  saying  she 
knew  a  soldier  when  she  saw  him,  for,  now  that  he  wag 
thoroughly  waked  up,  he  proved  that  there  was  plenty 
of  courage,  energy,  and  endurance  in  him. 

It  is  my  private  opinion  that  he  might  now  and  then 
have  slightly  regretted  the  step  he  had  taken,  had  it 
not  been  for  certain  recollections  of  a  sarcastic  tongue 
and  a  pair  of  keen  eyes,  not  to  mention  the  influence 
of  one  of  the  most  potent  rulers  of  the  human  heart ; 
namely,  the  desire  to  prove  himself  worthy  the  respect, 
if  nothing  more,  of  somebody  at  home.  Belle's  socks 
did  seem  to  keep  him  safe,  and  lead  him  straight  in  the 
narrow  path  of  duty.  Belle's  comfort-bag  was  such  in 
very  truth,  for  not  one  of  the  stout  needles  on  the  tri- 
colored  cushion  but  what  seemed  to  wink  its  eye  ap 
provingly  at  him;  not  one  of  the  tidy  balls  of  thread 
that  did  not  remind  him  of  the  little  hand  he  covetecl 
and  the  impracticable  scissors  were  cherished  as  a  good 
omen,  though  he  felt  that  the  sharpest  steel  that  ever 
came  from  Sheffield  couldn't  cut  his  love  in  twain 
And  Belle's  lessons,  short  as  they  had  been,  were  not 
forgotten,  but  seemed  to  have  been  taken  up  by  a 


WHAT  BECAME   OF   THEM.  229 

stonier  mistress,  whose  rewards  were  greater,  if  not  so 
sweet,  as  those  the  girl  could  give.  There  was  plenty 
of  exercise  nowadays,  and  of  hard  work  that  left  many 
a  tired  head  asleep  for  ever  under  the  snow.  There 
were  many  opportunities  for  diving  "  into  the  depth? 
and  bringing  up  pearls  worth  having"  by  acts  of  kind 
ness  among  the  weak,  the  wicked,  and  the  suffering  all 
about  him.  He  learned  now  how  to  earn,  not  buy,  the 
thanks  of  the  poor,  and  unconsciously  proved  in  the 
truest  way  that  a  private  could  be  a  gentleman.  But 
best  of  all  was  the  steadfast  purpose  "  to  live  and  die 
for  a  principle,"  which  grew  and  strengthened  with 
each  month  of  bitter  hardship,  bloody  strife,  and  dearly 
bought  success.  Life  grew  earnest  to  him,  time  seemed 
precious,  self  was  forgotten,  and  all  that  was  best  ana 
bravest  rallied  round  the  flag  on  which  his  heart  in 
scribed  the  motto,  "  Love  and  Liberty." 

Praise  and  honor  he  could  not  fail  to  win,  and  had  he 
never  gone  back  to  claim  his  bounty  he  would  have 
earned  the  great  "  Well  done,"  for  he  kept  his  oath  loy 
ally,  did  his  duty  manfully,  and  loved  his  lady  faith 
fully,  like  a  knight  of  the  chivalrous  times.  He  knew 
nothing  of  her  secret,  but  wore  her  blue  ribbon  like  an 
order,  never  went  into  battle  without  first,  like  many 
another  poor  fellow,  kissing  something  which  he  car 
ried  next  his  heart,  and  with  each  day  of  absence  felt 
himself  a  better  man,  and  braver  soldier,  for  the 
fondly  foolish  romance  he  had  woven  about  the  scarlet 
stockings. 

Belle  and  Kate  did  comfort  one  another,  not  only 
with  tears  and  kisses,  but  with  womanly  work  which 
kept  hearts  happy  and  hands  busy.  How  Belle  bribed 


230  SCARLET  STOCKiNGS. 

her  to  silence  will  always  remain  the  ninth  wonder  of 
the  world;  but,  though  reams  of  paper  passed  between 
brother  and  sister  during  those  twelve  months,  not  a 
hint  was  dropped  on  one  side  in  reply  to  artful  inquiries 
from  the  other.  Belle  never  told  her  love  in  words ;  but 
she  stowed  away  an  unlimited  quantity  of  the  article  in 
the  big  boxes  that  went  to  gladden  the  eyes  and  —  alas 
for  romance!  —  the  stomach  of  Private  Lennox.  If  pic 
kles  could  typify  passion,  cigars  prove  constancy,  and 
gingerbread  reveal  the  longings  of  the  soul,  then  would 
the  above-mentioned  gentleman  have  been  the  happiest 
of  lovers.  But  camp-life  had  doubtless  dulled  his  finer 
intuitions  :  for  he  failed  to  understand  the  new  language 
of  love,  and  gave  away  these  tender  tokens  with  lav 
ish  prodigality.  Concealment  preyed  a  trifle  on  Belle's 
damask  cheek,  it  must  be  confessed,  and  the  keen  eyes 
grew  softer. with  the  secret  tears  that  sometimes  dimmed 
them ;  the  sharp  tongue  seldom  did  mischief  now,  but 
uttered  kindly  words  to  every  one,  as  if  doing  penance 
for  the  past;  and  a  sweet  seriousness  toned  down  the 
lively  spirit,  which  was  learning  many  things  in  the 
sleepless  nights  that  followed  when  the  "little  prayer" 
for  the  beloved  substitute  was  done. 

"  I'll  wait  and  see  if  he  is  all  I  hope  he  will  be,  before 
I  let  him  know.  I  shall  read  the  truth  the  instant  I  see 
him,  and  if  he  has  stood  the  test  I'll  run  into  his  arms 
and  tell  him  every  thing,"  she  said  to  herself,  with  deli 
cious  thrills  at  the  idea ;  but  you  may  be  sure  she  did 
nothing  of  the  sort  when  the  time  came. 

A  rumor  flew  through  the  town  one  day  that  Lennox 
had  arrived;  upon  receipt  of  which  joyful  tidings,  Belle 
hid  n  pnnic  find  hid  herself  in  the  ganvt.  But  when 


YJIAT   BECAME   OF   THEM.  281 

she  had  quaked,  and  cried,  and  peeped,  and  listened 
for  an  hour  or  two,  finding  that  no  one  came  to  hunt 
her  up,  she  composed  her  nerves  and  descended  to  pass 
the  afternoon  in  the  parlor  and  a  high  state  of  dignity. 
All  sorts  of  reports  reached  her:  he  was  mortally 
wounded;  he  had  been  made  a  major  or  a  colonel  or  a 
general,  no  one  knew  exactly  which  ;  he  was  dead,  was 
going  to  be  married,  and  hadn't  come  at  all.  Belle 
fully  expiated  all  her  small  sins  by  the  agonies  of  sus 
pense  she  suffered  that  day,  and  when  at  last  a  note 
came  from  Kate,  begging  her  "to  drop  over  to  see 
Harry,"  she  put  her  pride  in  her  pocket  and  went  at 
once. 

The  drawing-room  was  empty  and  in  confusion,  there 
was  a  murmur  of  voices  upstairs,  a  smell  of  camphor 
in  the  air,  and  an  empty  wine-glass  on  the  table  where  a 
military  cap  was  lying.  Belle's  heart  sunk,  and  she 
covertly  kissed  the  faded  blue  coat  as  she  stood  waiting 
breathlessly,  wondering  if  Harry  had  any  arms  for  hei 
to  run  into.  She  heard  the  chuckling  Biddy  lumber  up 
and  announce  her,  then  a  laugh,  and  a  half-fond,  halt- 
exulting,  "Ah,  ha,  I  thought  she'd  come!" 

That  spoilt  it  all;  Belle  took  out  her  pride  instanter, 
rubbed  a  quick  color  into  her  white  cheeks,  and,  snatch 
ing  up  a  newspaper,  sat  herself  down  with  as  expres 
sionless  a  face  as  it  was  possible  for  an  excited  young 
woman  to  possess.  Lennox  came  running  down. 
w  Thank  Heaven,  his  legs  are  safe  ! "  sighed  Belle,  with 
her  eyes  glued  to  the  price  of  beef.  He  entered  with 
both  hands  extended,  which  relieved  her  mind  upon 
another  point;  and  he  beamed  upon  her,  looking  so 
vigorous  manly,  and  martial,  that  she  cried  within  her 


282  SCARLET   STOCKINGS. 

self,  '-My  beautiful  brown  soldier!"  even  while  she 
greeted  him  with  an  unnecessarily  brief,  "  How  do  you 
do,  Mr.  Lennox  ?  " 

The  sudden  eclipse  which  passed  over  his  joyful 
countenance  would  have  been  ludicrous,  if  it  hadn't  been 
pathetic ;  but  he  was  used  to  hard  knocks  now,  and  bore 
this,  his  hardest,  like  a  man.  He  shook  hands  heartily  ; 
and,  as  Belle  sat  down  again  (not  to  betray  that  she 
was  trembling  a  good  deal),  he  stood  at  ease  before  her, 
talking  in  a  way  which  soon  satisfied  her  that  he  had 
borne  the  test,  and  that  bliss  was  waiting  for  her  round 
the  corner.  But  she  had  made  it  such  a  very  sharp  corner 
she  couldn't  turn  it  gracefully,  and  while  she  pondered 
how  to  do  so  he  helped  her  with  a  cough.  She  looked 
up  quickly,  discovering  all  at  once  that  he  was  very  thin, 
rather  pale  in  spite  of  the  nice  tan,  and  breathed  hur 
riedly  as  he  stood  with  one  hand  in  his  breast. 

"  Are  you  ill,  wounded,  in  pain  ? "  she  asked,  for 
getting  herself  entirely. 

"  Yes,  a,1 1  three,"  he  answered,  after  a  curious  look 
at  her  changing  color  and  anxious  eyes. 

"  Sit  down  —  tell  me  about  it  —  can  I  do  any  thing  ?  " 
and  Belle  began  to  plump  up  the  pillows  on  the  couch 
with  nervous  eagerness. 

''  Thank  you,  I'm  past  help,"  was  the  mournful  reply 
accompanied  by  a  hollow  cough  which  made  her  shiver, 

"Oh,  don't  say  so  !  Let  me  bring  father;  he  is  very 
skilful.  Shall  I  call  Kate?" 

"  He  can  do  nothing ;  Kate  doesn't  know  this,  and  I 
beg  you  won't  tell  her.  I  got  a  shot  in  the  breast  and 
made  light  of  it,  but  it  will  finish  me  sooner  or  later. 
I  don't  mind  telling  you,  for  you  are  one  of  tht  strong, 


WHAT  BECAME   OF  THEM.  283 

cool  sort,  you  know,  and  are  not  affected  by  such  things 
But  Kate  is  so  fond  of  me,  I  don't  want  to  shock  and 
trouble  her  yet  awhile.  Let  her  enjoy  my  little  visit, 
and  after  I'm  gone  you  can  tell  her  the  truth." 

Belle  had  sat  like  a  statue  while  he  spoke  with  fre 
quent  pauses  and  an  involuntary  clutch  or  two  at  the 
suffering  breast.  As  he  stopped  and  passed  his  hand 
over  his  eyes,  she  said  slowly,  as  if  her  white  lips  were 
Btiff,— 

k'Gone!  where?" 

"Back  to  my  place.  I'd  rather  die  fighting  than 
fussed  and  wailed  over  by  a  parcel  of  women.  I  ex 
pected  to  stay  a  week  or  so,  but  a  battle  is  coming  off 
sooner  than  we  imagined,  so  I'm  away  again  to-morrow. 
As  I'm  not  likely  ever  to  come  back,  I  just  wanted  to 
ask  you  to  stand  by  poor  Kate  when  I'm  finished,  and 
to  say  good-by  to  you,  Belle,  before  I  go."  He  put 
out  his  hand,  but,  holding  it  fast  in  both  her  own,  she 
laid  her  tearful  face  down  on  it,  whispering  implor- 

inglv>  — 

"  Oh,  Harry,  stay  !  " 

Never  mind  what  happened  for  the  next  ten  minutes ; 
suffice  it  to  say  that  the  enemy  having  surrendered, 
the  victor  took  possession  with  great  jubilation  and 
showed  no  quarter. 

"Bang  the  field-piece,  toot  the  fife,  and  beat    the 
rolling   drum,  for  ruse  number  three  has   succeeded 
Come  down,  Kate,  and  give  us  your  blessing !  "   called 
Lennox,  taking  pity  on  his  sister,  who  was  anxiously 
awaiting  the  denouement  on  the  stairs. 

In  she  rushed,  and  the  young  ladies  laughed  and 
cried,  kissed  and  talked  tumultuously,  while  their  idol 


2o4  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

benign  an tly  looked  on,  vainly  endeavoring  to  represa 
all  vestiges  of  unmanly  emotion. 

"And  you  are  not  dying,  really,  truly?"  cried  Belle, 
when  fair  weather  set  in  after  the  flurry. 

"  Bless  your  dear  heart,  no  !  I'm  as  sound  as  a  nut, 
and  haven't  a  wound  to  boast  of,  except  this  ugly  slash 
on  the  head." 

"  It's  a  splendid  wound,  and  I'm  proud  of  it,"  and 
Belle  set  a  rosy  little  seal  on  the  scar,  which  quite  recon 
ciled  her  lover  to  the  disfigurement  of  his  handsome 
forehead.  "  You've  learned  to  fib  in  the  army,  and  I'm 
disappointed  in  you,"  she  added,  trying  to  look  reproach 
ful  and  failing  entirely. 

u  No,  only  the  art  of  strategy.  You  quenched  me  by 
your  frosty  reception,  and  I  thought  it  was  all  up  till 
you  put  the  idea  of  playing  invalid  into  my  head.  It 
succeeded  so  well  that  I  piled  on  the  agony,  resolving 
to  fight  it  out  on  that  line,  and  if  I  failed  again  to 
make  a  masterly  retreat.  You  gave  me  a  lesson  in 
deceit  once,  so  don't  complain  if  I  turned  the  tables 
and  made  your  heart  ache  for  a  minute,  as  you've  made 
mine  for  a  year." 

Belle's  spirit  was  rapidly  coming  back,  so  she  gave 
him  a  capital  imitation  of  his  French  shrug,  and  drawled 
out  in  his  old  way,  — 

"  I  have  my  doubts  about  that,  mon  ami" 

"  What  do  you  say  to  this  —  and  this  —  and  this?" 
he  retorted,  pulling  out  and  laying  before  her  with  a 
triumphant  flourish  a  faded  blue  ribbon,  a  fat  pincushion 
with  a  hole  through  it,  and  a  daintily  painted  little 
picture  of  a  pretty  girl  in  scarlet  stockings. 

"There,  I've  carried   those  treasures  in   my  breast- 


WHAT  BECAME   OF   THEM.  235 

pocket  for  a  year,  and  I'm  firmly  convinced  that  they 
have  all  done  their  part  toward  keeping  me  safe.  The 
blue  ribbon  bound  me  fast  to  you,  Belle ;  the  funny 
cushion  caught  the  bullet  that  otherwise  might  have 
finished  me;  and  the  blessed  little  picture  was  my 
comfort  during  those  dreadful  marches,  my  companion 
on  picket-duty  with  treachery  and  danger  all  about  me, 
and  my  inspiration  when  the  word  'Charge!'  went 
down  the  line,  for  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  I  always 
saw  the  little  gray  figure  beckoning  me  on  to  my  duty." 

"  Oh,  Harry,  you  won't  go  back  to  all  those  horrors, 
will  you  ?  I'm  sure  you've  done  enough,  and  may  rest 
now  and  enjoy  your  reward,"  said  Kate,  trying  not  to 
feel  that  "  two  is  company,  and  three  is  none." 

"  I've  enlisted  for  the  war,  and  shall  not  rest  till 
either  it  or  I  come  to  an  end.  As  for  my  reward,  I  had 
it  when  Belle  kissed  me." 

"  You  are  right,  I'll  wait  for  you,  and  love  you  all  the 
better  for  the  sacrifice,"  whispered  Belle.  "  I  only  wish 
I  could  share  your  hardships,  dear,  for  while  you  fight 
and  suffer  I  can  only  love  and  pray." 

"  Waiting  is  harder  than  working  to  such  as  you ;  so 
be  contented  with  your  share,  for  the  thought  of  you 
will  glorify  the  world  generally  for  me.  I'll  tell  you 
what  you  can  do  while  I'm  away:  it's  both  useful  and 
amusing,  so  it  will  occupy  and  cheer  you  capitally. 
Just  knit  lots  of  red  hose,  because  I  don't  intend  you  to 
wear  any  others  hereafter,  Mrs.  Lennox." 

"Mine  are  not  worn  out  yet,"  laughed  Belle,  getting 
merry  at  the  thought. 

"  No  matter  for  that ;  those  are  sacred  articles,  and 
henceforth  must  be  treasured  as  memorials  of  our  love. 


236  SCARLET  STOCKINGS. 

Frame  and  hang  them  up ;  or,  if  the  prejudices  of  society 
forbid  that  flight  of  romance,  lay  them  carefully  away 
where  moths  can't  devour  nor  thieves  steal  them,  so  that 
years  hence,  when  my  descendants  praise  me  for  any 
virtues  I  may  possess,  any  good  I  may  have  done,  or  any 
honor  I  may  have  earned,  I  can  point  to  those  precious 
relics  and  say  proudly, — 

"  My  children,  for  all  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,  you 
'  must  thank  your  honored  mother's  scarlet  stockings  " 


INDEPENDENCE: 

A    CENTENNIAL     LOVE     STORY. 


CHAPTER    L 

MISS  DOLLY. 

«  QTUPID-LOOKING  old  place  !  Dare  say  I  shall 
vJ  have  to  waste  half  an  hour  listening  to  centen 
nial  twaddle  before  I  get  what  I  want !  The  whole 
thins;  is  a  bore,  but  I  can't  quarrel  with  my  bread  and 
butter,  so  here  goes;"  and,  with  an  air  of  resignation, 
the  young  man  applied  himself  to  the  rusty  knocker. 

"Rather  a  nice  old  bit;  may  be  useful,  so  I'll  book 
it ; "  and,  whipping  out  a  sketch-book,  the  stranger  took 
a  hasty  likeness  of  the  griffin's  head  on  the  knocker. 

"  Deaf  as  posts ;  try,  try,  try  again ;  "  and,  pocketing 
his  work,  the  artist  gave  an  energetic  rat,  tat,  tat,  that 
echoed  through  the  house. 

Having  rashly  concluded  that  the  inhabitants  of  the 
aacient  mansion  were  proportionately  aged,  he  assumed 
a  deferential  expression  as  steps  approached,  and  pre 
pared  to  prefer  with  all  due  respect  the  request  which 
he  had  come  many  miles  to  make.  The  door  opened 
with  unexpected  rapidity,  but  the  neatly  arranged 
speech  did  not  glide  glibly  off  the  young  man's  tongue, 
and  the  change  which  came  over  him  was  comically 


238  INDEPENDENCE. 

sudden;  for,  instead  of  an  old  woman,  a  blooming  giil 
stood  upon  the  threshold,  with  a  petulant  expression  on 
her  charming  face,  which  only  made  it  more  charming 
•till. 

"What  did  you  wish,  sir?"  asked  the  rosy  mouth, 
involuntarily  relaxing  from  a  vain  attempt  to  look 
severe,  while  the  hazel  eyes  softened  with  a  mirthful 
gleam  as  they  rested  on  the  comely,  but  embarrassed 
countenance  before  her. 

"  Beg  pardon  for  making  such  a  noise.  I  merely 
wished  to  inquire  if  the  famous  chair  in  which  Wash 
ington  sat  when  he  visited  the  town  is  here,"  replied 
the  stranger,  clutching  off  his  hat  with  a  very  different 
sort  of  respect  from  that  which  he  had  intended  to 
show,  and  feeling  as  if  he  had  received  a  shock  of  some 
new  and  delightful  sort  of  electricity. 

"Yes;"  and  the  girl  began  to  close  the  door,  as  if 
she  knew  what  question  was  coming  next. 

"  Could  I  be  allowed  to  sketch  it  for  '  The  Weekly 
Portfolio'?  All  such  relics  are  so  valuable  this  year 
that  we  venture  to  ask  many  favors,  and  this  is  such 
a  famous  affair  I've  no  doubt  you  are  often  troubled 
by  requests  of  this  sort,"  continued  the  artist,  with  the 
persuasive  tone  of  one  accustomed  to  make  his  way 
everywhere. 

"  This  is  the  fifth  time  this  week,"  replied  the  damsel, 
demurely ;  though  her  lips  still  struggled  not  to  smile. 

"  It's  very  good  of  you,  I'm  sure,  to  let  us  fellows  in, 
but  the  public  demand  is  immense  just  now,  and  wo 
only  obey  orders,  you  know,"  began  the  fifth  intruder, 
fervently  hoping  the  other  four  had  been  refused. 

"But  Mrs.  Hill  never  does  let  artists  or  reporters 


MISS  DOLLY.  239 

[n,"  was  the  gentle  quencher  which  arrested  him,  as  he 
was  industriously  wiping  his  feet  on  the  door-mat. 

"  Never  ?  "  he  asked,  stopping  short,  while  an  expres 
sion  of  alarm  changed  suddenly  to  one  of  satisfaction. 

"  Never,"  answered  the  damsel,  like  a  sweet-voiced 
echo. 

"  Then  the  other  fellows  lost  their  chance,  and  that 
makes  the  old  thing  doubly  valuable.  If  I  could  see 
Mrs.  Hill  for  a  moment,  I've  no  doubt  she  will  allow 
me  to  sketch  the  chair." 

"  She  is  not  at  home." 

"  So  much  the  better ;  for,  when  I  tell  you  that  I've 
come  fifty  miles  to  pick  up  antiquities  in  this  town,  I 
know  you  won't  have  the  heart  to  send  me  away  with 
out  the  gem  of  the  collection,"  replied  the  artist,  noth 
ing  daunted;  for  his  quick  eye  read  the  artless  face 
before  him,  and  saw  a  defiant  expression  come  over  it, 
which  made  him  suspect  that  there  had  been  a  falling 
out  between  mistress  and  maid,  if  such  they  were.  He 
was  sure  of  it  when  the  girl  threw  open  the  door  with 
a  decisive  gesture,  saying  briefly,  — 

"  Walk  in,  if  you  please ;  she  won't  be  home  for  an 
hour." 

"  What  a  little  beauty ! "  thought  the  young  man, 
admiring  her  spirit,  and  feeling  that  the  "  stupid  old 
place  "  contained  unexpected  treasures,  as  he  followed 
her  into  the  room  where  the  ubiquitous  Father  of  his 
Country  was  reported  to  have  dried  his  august  boots, 
and  drunk  a  mug  of  cider  some  hundred  years  ago. 

It  seemed  as  if  the  ghosts  of  many  of  the  homely 
household  articles  used  then  had  come  back  to  cele 
brate  the  anniversary  of  that  thrilling  event ;  for  there 


240  INDEPENDENCE. 

was  nothing  modern  in  the  little  room  but  the  girl  and 
her  guest,  who  stared  about  him  at  the  tall  andirons 
on  the  hearth,  the  bright,  brass  candlesticks  above  it, 
the  spinning-wheel  on  one  side,  a  dresser  on  the  other 
strewn  with  pewter  platters,  porringers,  and  old  china, 
while  antique  garments  hung  over  the  settle  by  the 
fire. 

"Bless  my  soul,  what  a  capital  old  place  !"  he  ejacu 
lated,  taking  it  all  in  with  an  artist's  keen  appreciation. 
"  I  feel  as  if  I'd  gone  back  a  century,  and  the  General 
might  come  in  at  any  minute." 

"  That  is  the  chair  he  used,  and  this  the  tankard  he 
drank  from,"  answered  the  girl,  pointing  out  the  sacred 
objects  with  a  reverential  air  which  warned  her  visitor 
that  he  must  treat  the  ancient  and  honorable  relics  with 
due  respect. 

Then  feeling  that  this  was  an  unusual  stroke  of  luck, 
he  hastened  to  make  the  most  of  it,  by  falling  to  work 
at  once,  saying,  as  he  took  a  seat,  and  pointed  his 
pencils,  — 

"  There  is  such  a  lot  of  treasures  here  that  I  don't 
know  where  to  begin.  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  very  much 
in  your  way." 

"  Oh,  no !  if  you  don't  mind  my  going  on  with  my 
work ;  for  I  can't  leave  it  very  well.  All  these  things 
are  to  be  sent  away  to-morrow,  that's  why  the  place  is 
in  such  confusion,"  replied  the  girl,  as  she  fell  to  pol 
ishing  up  a  brass  snuffer-tray. 

"  Here's  richness  ! "  thought  the  artist,  with  a  sigh  of 
satisfaction,  as  he  dashed  at  his  work,  feeling  wonder 
fully  inspired  by  his  picturesque  surroundings. 

The  dull  winter  sky  gloomed  without,  and  a  chilly 


MISS  DOLLY.  241 

wind  8ighed  through  the  leafless  elms;  but  within  the 
little  room  fairly  glowed  with  the  ruddy  firelight  that 
shone  in  the  bright  brasses,  glimmered  over  the  tar 
nished  silver  of  the  quaint  vests  on  the  settle,  arid 
warmed  the  artist's  busy  hand,  as  if  it  liked  to  help 
him  in  his  task.  But  the  jolly  flames  seemed  to  dance 
most  lovingly  about  their  little  mistress ;  bathing  the 
sweet  face  with  a  softer  bloom,  touching  the  waves  of 
brown  hair  with  gold,  peeping  under  the  long  lashes  at 
the  downcast  eyes  that  peeped  back  again  half  arch, 
half  shy;  glorifying  the  blue  apron  that  seemed  to 
clasp  the  trim  waist  as  if  conscious  of  its  advantages, 
and  showing  up  the  dimples  in  the  bare  arms  working 
BO  briskly  that  even  the  verdigris  of  ages  yielded  to 
their  persuasive  touch. 

"Who  can  this  pretty  Priscilla  be?  I  must  make 
her  talk  and  find  out.  Never  shall  get  the  eyes  right, 
if  she  doesn't  look  up,"  thought  the  artist,  who,  instead 
of  devoting  himself  to  the  historical  chair,  was  basely 
sketching  the  girl  whose  youth  and  beauty  were  won 
derfully  enhanced  by  the  antiquity  around  her. 

"Mrs.  Hill  is  a  rich  woman,  if  all  these  treasures 
have  a  history.  Even  if  they  haven't,  they  would 
bring  a  good  price ;  for  things  of  this  sort  are  all  the 
rage  now,  and  the  older  the  better,"  he  said  aloud  in  a 
sociable  tone,  as  he  affected  to  study  the  left  arm  of 
the  famous  chair. 

"  They  are  not  hers  to  sell,  for  they  belonged  to  the 
fii  st  Mrs.  Hill,  who  was  a  Quincy,  and  had  a  right  to  be 
proud  of  them.  The  present  Mrs.  Hill  doesn't  value 
them  a  bit ;  but  she  was  a  Smith,  so  her  family  relics 
are  nothing  to  boast  of,"  answered  the  girl,  using 

16 


242  INDEPENDENCE. 

her  bit  of  wash-leather  as  if  the  entire  race  of  Smith 
ought  to  be  rubbed  out  of  existence. 

"  And  she  is  going  to  sell  all  these  fine  old  things,  ia 
she  ? "  asked  the  artist,  with  an  eye  to  bargains. 

"No,  indeed!  they  belong  to — to  the  first  Mrs. 
[Jill's  daughter,  named  after  her,  Dorothy  Quincy," 
the  girl  began  impetuously,  but  checked  herself,  and 
ended  very  quietly  with  a  suddenly  averted  head. 

"A  fine  name,  and  I  shouldn't  think  she  would  be 
in  haste  to  change  it,"  said  the  artist,  wondering  if  Miss 
Dorothy  Quincy  was  before  him. 

"  Not  much  hope  of  that,  poor  thing,"  with  a  shake 
of  the  head  that  made  several  brown  curls  tumble  out 
of  the  net  which  tried  to  confine  a  riotous  mass  of 
them. 

"Ah,  I  see,  a  spinster?"  and  the  young  man  re 
turned  to  his  work  with  greatly  abated  interest  in  the 
subject. 

The  bright  eyes  glanced  quickly  up,  and  when  they 
fell  the  snuffer-tray  reflected  a  merry  twinkle  in  them, 
as  their  owner  answered  gravely,  — 

"  Yes,  a  spinster." 

"Is  she  one  of  the  amiable  sort?" 

"Oh,  dear,  no!  very  quick  in  her  temper  and 
sharp  with  her  tongue.  But  then  she  has  a  good  deal 
to  try  her,  as  I  happen  to  know." 

"  Sorry  for  that.  Spinsterhood  is  trying,  I  fancy,  so 
we  should  be  patient  with  the  poor  old  ladies.  Wny 
I  asked  was  because  I  thought  I  might  induce  Miss 
Dolly  to  let  me  have  some  of  her  relics.  Do  you  think 
she  would?"  he  asked,  holding  his  sketch  at  arm's 
length,  and  studying  it  with  his  head  on  one  side. 


MISS  DOLLY.  248 

**  Fm  very  sure  she  won't,  for  these  old  things  are  all 
she  has  in  the  world,  and  she  loves  them  dearly.  Peo 
ple  used  to  laugh  at  her  for  it,  but  now  they  are  glad 
to  own  her  and  her  '  duds,'  as  they  called  them.  The 
Smiths  are  looking  up  every  thing  they  can  find  of 
that  sort,  even  poor  relations.  All  these  things  are 
going  down  to  a  fair  to-morrow,  and  Miss  Dolly  with 
them." 

"As  one  of  the  relics?"  suggested  the  artist,  glanc 
ing  at  a  green  calash  and  a  plum-colored  quilted 
petticoat  lying  on  the  settle. 

"  Exactly,"  laughed  the  girl,  adding  with  a  touch  of 
bitterness  in  her  voice,  "Poor  Miss  Dolly  never  got  an 
invitation  before,  and  I'm  afraid  it's  foolish  of  her  to 
go  now,  since  she  is  only  wanted  to  show  off  the  old- 
fashioned  things,  and  give  the  Smiths  something  to 
boast  of." 

"You  are  fond  of  the  old  lady  in  spite  of  her  temper, 
I  see." 

"  She  is  the  only  friend  I've  got ; "  and  the  speaker 
bent  over  the  tray  as  if  to  hide  emotion  of  some  sort. 

"  I  shall  probably  have  to  '  do '  that  fair  for  our 
paper ;  if  so,  I'll  certainly  pay  my  respects  to  Miss  Dolly. 
Why  not?  Is  she  so  very  awful?"  he  asked  quickly, 
as  the  girl  looked  up  with  a  curious  mixture  of  mirth 
and  malice  in  her  face. 

"  Very ! "  with  a  lifting  of  the  brows  and  a  pursing 
up  of  the  lips  delightful  to  behold. 

"You  think  I  won't  dare  address  the  peppery  virgin  ? 
I  never  saw  the  woman  yet  whom  I  was  afraid  of,  or 
the  man  either  for  that  matter,  so  I  give  you  my  word 
Til  not  only  speak  to  Miss  Dolly,  but  win  her  old  heart 


244  INDEPENDENCE 

by  my  admiration  for  her  and  her  ancestral  treasures, 
said  the  artist,  accepting  the  challenge  he  read  in  the 
laughing  eyes. 

"We  shall  see,  for  I'm  going  with  her.  I  «lo  the 
spinning,  and  it's  great  fun,"  said  the  girl,  prudently 
changing  the  conversation,  though  she  evidently  en 
joyed  it. 

"  I  never  saw  it  done.  Could  you  give  me  an  idea 
of  the  thing,  if  it  is  not  asking  too  much  ?  "  proposed 
the  artist  in  his  most  persuasive  tone,  for  somehow 
play  of  this  sort  was  much  more  interesting  than  the 
study  of  old  furniture. 

With  amiable  alacrity  the  girl  set  the  big  wheel  buzz 
ing,  and  deftly  drew  out  the  yarn  from  the  spindle, 
stepping  briskly  to  and  fro,  twirling  and  twisting  with 
an  ease  and  grace  which  convinced  the  admiring  ob 
server  that  the  best  thing  ever  invented  to  show  off  a 
round  arm,  a  pretty  foot,  a  fine  figure,  and  a  charming 
face,  was  a  spinning-wheel. 

This  opinion  was  so  plainly  expressed  upon  his  own 
countenance  that  the  color  deepened  in  the  girl's 
cheeks  as  she  looked  over  her  shoulder  to  see  how 
he  liked  it,  and  dropping  the  thread  she  left  the 
wheel  still  whirling,  and  went  back  to  her  work  without 
a  word. 

"  Thank  you  very  much ;  it's  beautiful !  Don't  see 
how  in  the  world  you  do  it,"  murmured  the  young  man, 
affecting  to  examine  the  wheel,  while  his  own  head 
seemed  to  whirl  in  sympathy,  for  that  backward  glance 
had  unconsciously  done  great  execution. 

A  moon-faced  clock  behind  the  door  striking  eleven 
recalled  the  idler  to  his  task,  and  resuming  his  seat  he 


MISS  DOLLY.  245 

drew  silently  till  the  chair  was  done;  then  he  turned  a 
page,  and  looked  about  for  the  next  good  bit. 

"  Rather  warm  work,"  he  said,  smiling,  as  he  shook 
the  hair  off  his  forehead,  and  pushed  his  chair  back  from 
the  hearth. 

"This  is  what  makes  the  place  so  hot.  I've  been 
learning  to  make  old-fashioned  dishes  for  the  fair,  and 
this  batch  is  going  down  to  show  what  I  can  do." 

As  she  spoke,  the  girl  threw  open  the  door  of  a  cav 
ernous  oven,  and  with  an  air  of  housewifely  pride  dis 
played  a  goodly  array  of  brown  loaves  round  as  cannon- 
balls,  earthen  crocks  suggestive  of  baked  beans  and 
Indian  pudding,  and  near  the  door  a  pan  of  spicy  cakes 
delectable  to  smell  and  see.  These  she  drew  forth  and 
set  upon  the  table,  turning  from  the  oven  after  a  care 
ful  inspection  of  its  contents  with  the  complexion  of 
a  damask  rose. 

"  Delicious  spectacle  ! "  exclaimed  the  artist,  with 
his  eyes  upon  the  pretty  cook,  while  hers  were  on  her 
handiwork. 

"  You  shall  taste  them,  for  they  are  made  from  a  very 
old  receipt  and  are  called  sweethearts,"  said  the  inno 
cent  creature,  setting  them  forth  on  a  large  platter, 
while  a  smile  went  dimpling  round  her  lips. 

"  Capital  name !  they'll  sell  faster  than  you  can  make 
them.  But  it  seems  to  me  you  are  to  have  all  the 
work,  and  Miss  Dolly  all  the  credit,"  added  this  highly 
appreciative  guest,  subduing  with  difficulty  the  rash 
impulse  to  embrace  Miss  Dolly's  rosy  handmaid  on  the 
epot. 

She  seemed  to  feel  the  impending  danger,  and  say 
ing  hastily,  "You  must  have  some  cider  to  go  with 


240  INDEPENDENCE. 

your  cake:  that's  the  correct  thing,  you  know,'"  she 
tripped  away  with  hospitable  zeal. 

"  Upon  my  soul,  I  begin  to  feel  like  the  Prince  of 
the  fairy  tale  in  this  quiet  place  where  every  thing  seems 
to  have  been  asleep  for  a  hundred  years.  The  little 
beauty  ought  to  have  been  asleep  too,  and  given  me  a 
chance  to  wake  her.  More  of  a  Cinderella  than  a  prin 
cess,  I  fancy,  and  leads  a  hard  life  of  it  between  Miss 
Dolly  and  the  second  Mrs.  Hill.  Wonder  what  happy 
fellowr  will  break  the  spell  and  set  her  free?"  and  the 
young  man  paced  the  kitchen,  humming  softly,  — 

"And  on  her  lover's  arm  she  leant, 

And  round  her  waist  she  felt  it  fold; 
And  far  across  the  hills  they  went, 
In  that  new  world  which  is  the  old," 

till  the  sound  of  a  light  step  made  him  dart  into  a 
chair,  saying  to  himself  with  a  sudden  descent  from 
poetry  to  prose,  "  Bless  her  little  heart,  I'll  drink  her 
cider  if  it's  as  sour  as  vinegar." 

In  came  the  maid,  bearing  a  tankard  on  a  salver ;  and, 
adding  several  sweethearts,  she  offered  the  homely 
lunch  with  a  curtsey  and  a  smile  that  would  have  glori 
fied  even  pork  and  beans. 

"  You  are  sitting  in  the  General's  chair,  and  here  is 
the  tankard  he  used ;  you  can  drink  his  health,  if  you 
like." 

"I'd  rather  drink  that  of  the  maker  of  sweethearts ;" 
and,  rising,  the  artist  did  so,  gallantly  regardless  of  con 
sequences. 

But  the  cider  was  excellent,  and  subsiding  into  the 
immortal  chair  he  enjoyed  his  lunch  with  the  hearty 
appetite  of  a  boy,  while  the  damsel  began  to  fold  up 


MISS  DOLLY.  247 

the  garments  airing  on  the  settle,  and  lay  them  into  a 
chest  standing  near ;  the  one  quite  unconscious  that  he 
was  drinking  draughts  of  a  far  more  potent  liquor  than 
apple-juice,  the  other  that  she  had  begun  to  spin  a 
golden  thread  instead  of  yarn  when  she  turned  the 
great  wheel  that  day. 

An  eloquent  sort  of  silence  filled  the  room  for  a 
moment,  and  a  ray  of  sunshine  glanced  from  the  silver 
tankard  to  the  bright  head  bent  over  the  chest,  as  if  to 
gild  the  first  page  of  the  romance  which  is  as  fresh  and 
sweet  to-day  as  when  the  stately  George  wooed  his 
beloved  Martha.  A  shrill  voice  suddenly  broke  that 
delicious  pause,  exclaiming,  as  a  door  opened  with  a 
bang,  — 

"  Not  packed  yet !  I  won't  have  this  rubbish  clutter 
ing  round  another  minute  —  "  There  the  voice  abruptly 
fell,  and  the  stranger  had  time  to  see  a  withered,  yel 
low  face  in  a  pumpkin  hood  stare  sharply  at  him  before 
it  vanished  with  an  exclamation  of  unmistakable  dis 
approval. 

"Miss  Dolly  seems  more  afraid  of  me  than  I  of  her, 
you  see,"  began  the  young  man,  much  amused  at  the 
retreat  of  the  enemy ;  for  such  he  regarded  any  one 
who  disturbed  this  delightful  tete-ci-tete. 

"  She  has  only  gone  to  put  her  cap  on,  and  when  she 
comes  back  you  can  pay  your  respects  to  —  Mrs.  Hill ; " 
and  the  girl  looked  over  the  lid  of  the  chest  with 
dancing  eyes. 

"  Then  I'd  better  be  off,  since  reporters  and  artists 
are  not  allowed  on  the  premises,"  exclaimed  the  visitor, 
rising  with  more  haste  than  dignity. 

"  Don't  hurry  ;  she  is  only  a  woman,  and  you  are  not 
afraid,  you  know" 


248  INDEPENDENCE. 

"  I'm  afraid  you  will  get  a  scolding,"  began  the  artist, 
pocketing  his  sketch-book,  and  grasping  his  hat. 

"I'm  used  to  that,"  answered  the  girl,  evidently 
enjoying  the  rout  with  naughty  satisfaction. 

But  the  sharp,  black  eyes  and  the  shrill  voice  had 
effectually  broken  the  pleasant  day-dream;  and  Mrs, 
Hill  in  a  pumpkin  hood  was  quite  enough  for  his 
nerves,  without  a  second  appearance  in  one  of  the  awe- 
inspiring  caps  such  ladies  affect. 

"  I  couldn't  think  of  repaying  your  kindness  by  in 
truding  any  longer,  now  that  I've  got  my  sketch.  A 
thousand  thanks;  good-morning;"  and,  opening  the 
first  door  he  came  to,  the  dismayed  man  was  about  to 
plunge  into  the  buttery,  when  the,  girl  arrested  his 
flight  and  led  him  through  the  long  hall. 

On  the  steps  he  took  breath,  returned  thanks  again 
with  grateful  warmth,  and  pulling  out  a  card  presented 
it,  as  if  anxious  to  leave  some  token  behind  which  should 
prevent  being  forgotten  by  one  person  at  least. 

"  John  Hancock  Harris  "  rea^d  the  card,  and  glancing 
up  from  it,  with  sudden  interest  in  her  eyes,  the  girl 
exclaimed  impulsively,  — 

"  Why,  then  you  must  be  a  relation  of —  " 

"  No,  I  regret  to  say  I'm  not  related  to  the  famous 
(lovernor,  only  named  for  him  to  please  my  father. 
I've  always  been  contented  with  a  modest  initial  until 
now ;  but  this  year  every  one  does  their  best  to  hang 
on  to  the  past,  so  I've  got  proud  of  my  middle  name, 
and  find  it  useful  as  well  as  ornamental,"  hastily  ex 
plained  the  honest  young  fellow,  though  just  then  he 
would  have  liked  to  claim  kinship  with  every  membei 
of  the  Continental  Congress. 


A   CINDER  AND  A   SPARK.  249 

»« I  hope  you  will  be  worthy  of  it,"  answered  the 
damsel  with  a  little  bow,  as  if  saluting  the  man  for  his 
name's  sake. 

"I  try  to  be,"  he  said  soberly,  adding  with  that 
engaging  smile  of  his,  "  May  I  ask  to  whom  I  am  in 
debted  for  this  very  profitable  and  agreeable  call  ?  " 

Instantly  the  sweet  sobriety  vanished,  and  every 
feature  of  the  pretty  face  shone  with  mirthful  malice 
as  the  girl  answered  sweetly, — 

"  Miss  Dolly.  Good-morning,"  and  closed  the  door, 
leaving  him  to  stare  blankly  at  the  griffin  on  the  knocker, 
which  appeared  to  stare  back  again  with  a  derisive 
grin. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  CINDER  AND  A  SPARK. 

ONE  of  the  few  snow-storms  of  the  memorably  mild 
winter  of  1876  was  coming  quietly  down,  watched  with 
lazy  interest  by  the  passengers  in  a  certain  train  that 
rumbled  leisurely  toward  the  city.  Without  it  was  cold 
and  wintry  enough,  but  within  as  hot  as  an  oven ;  for, 
with  the  usual  American  disregard  of  health,  there  was 
a  roaring  fire  in  the  stove,  every  ventilator  shut, 
arid  only  one  man  in  the  crowded  car  had  his  window 
open. 

Toward  this  reckless  being  many  a  warning  or  re 
proachful  glance  was  cast  by  rheumatic  old  gentlemen 
or  delicate  women  who  led  the  lives  of  hot-house 


250  INDEPENDENCE. 

flowers.  But  the  hearty  young  fellow  sat  buried  in 
his  newspapers,  regardless  alike  of  these  expressive 
glances  and  the  fresh  wind  that  blew  in  an  occasional 
snow-flake  to  melt  upon  his  shoulder,  hair,  or  beard. 

If  his  face  had  not  been  obscured  by  the  great  sheet 
held  before  it,  an  observer  might  have  watched  with 
interest  the  varying  expressions  of  amusement,  con 
tempt,  indignation,  and  disgust  which  passed  over  it  as 
he  read ;  for  it  was  a  very  expressive  face,  and  too 
young  yet  to  have  put  on  the  mask  men  so  soon 
learn  to  wear.  He  was  evidently  one  of  the  strong^ 
cheery,  sympathetic  sort  of  fellows  who  make  their 
way  everywhere,  finding  friends  as  they  go  from  the 
simple  fact  that  they  are  so  full  of  courage  and  good 
will  it  is  impossible  to  resist  them.  This  had  been 
proved  already;  for  during  that  short  journey  three  old 
ladies  had  claimed  his  services  in  one  way  or  another, 
a  shy  little  girl  had  sat  upon  his  knee  for  half  an  hour 
and  left  him  with  a  kiss,  and  an  obstreperous  Irish 
baby  had  been  bribed  to  hold  its  tongue  by  the  various 
allurements  he  devised,  to  the  great  amusement,  as 
well  as  gratitude,  of  his  neighbors. 

Just  now,  however,  he  looked  rather  grim,  knit 
his  brows  as  he  read,  and  finally  kicked  his  paper 
under  the  seat  with  an  expression  which  proved  that 
he  had  as  much  energy  as  kindliness  in  his  composition, 
and  no  taste  for  the  sorrowful  record  of  scandal,  dis 
honesty,  and  folly  daily  offered  the  American  public. 

"  Upon  my  word,  if  this  sort  of  thing  goes  on  much 
longer,  the  country  won't  be  fit  for  a  decent  man  to 
live  in,"  he  said  to  himself,  taking  a  mouthful  of  fresh 
air,  and  letting  his  eyes  wander  over  the  faces  of  his 


A    CINDER  AND   A    SPARK.  251 

fellow-travellers  as  if  wondering  which  of  the  emi 
nently  respectable  gentlemen  about  him  wculd  next 
startle  the  world  by  some  explosion  of  iniquity.  Even 
the  women  did  not  escape  the  scrutiny  of  the  keen 
blue  eyes,  which  softened,  however,  as  they  went  from 
one  possible  Delilah  to  another;  for  John  Harris  had 
not  yet  lost  his  reverence  for  womankind. 

Suddenly  his  wandering  glance  was  arrested,  a  look 
of  recognition  brightened  his  whole  countenance,  and 
an  involuntary  "  Hullo !  "  rose  to  his  lips,  instead  of  the 
romantic  "  Ha,  'tis  she ! "  with  which  novel  heroes  are 
supposed  to  greet  the  advent  of  the  charmer. 

The  object  which  wrought  so  swift  and  pleasant  a 
change  in  the  young  man's  mood  and  manner  was  a 
girl's  face  seen  in  profile  some  seats  in  front  of  him. 
A  modest  little  hat  with  a  sweeping  feather  rested 
easily  on  a  mass  of  wavy  hair,  which  was  not  spoilt  by 
any  fashionable  device,  but  looped  up  in  a  loose  sort  of 
braid  from  which  rebellious  tendrils  here  and  there 
escaped  to  touch  her  white  throat  or  shade  her  tem 
ples.  One  particularly  captivating  little  curl  twined 
round  her  ear  and  seemed  to  be  whispering  some 
pleasant  secret,  for  the  blooming  cheek  dimpled  now 
and  then,  the  soft  lips  smiled,  and  the  eyes  were  full  of 
a  dreamy  though tfulness.  A  book  lay  in  her  la}),  but 
her  own  fancies  seemed  more  interesting,  and  she  sat 
watching  the  snow-flakes  flutter  down,  lost  in  one  of 
the  delightful  reveries  girls  love,  quite  unconscious  of 
the  admiration  of  her  neighbors,  or  the  fixed  stare 
of  the  young  man  behind  her. 

"Miss  Dolly,  by  all  that's  good!"  he  said  to  himself, 
suddenly  forgetting  the  sins  of  his  native  land,  and 


252  INDEPENDENCE. 

finding  it  quite  possible  to  stop  a  little  longer  in  it.  "  She 
s:ud  she  was  going  to  town  with  the  old  things,  and 
there  she  is,  prettier  than  ever.  If  it  hadn't  been  for 
those  provoking  papers,  I  should  have  seen  her  when 
she  got  in,  and  might  have  secured  a  seat  by  her. 
That  stout  party  evidently  doesn't  appreciate  his  ad 
vantages.  I  can't  order  him  out,  but  I'll  watch  my 
chance,  for  I  really  ought  to  apologize  for  my  stupidity 
yesterday.  Wonder  if  she  has  forgotten  all  about  it?" 

And  John  fell  into  a  reverie  likewise,  for  he  was  in 
just  the  mood  to  enjoy  any  thing  so  innocent  and  fresh 
and  sweet  as  the  memory  of  little  Dolly  at  her  spin 
ning-wheel.  It  all  carne  back  to  him  with  a  redoubled 
charm,  for  there  was  a  home-like  warmth  and  sim 
plicity  about  it  that  made  the  recollection  very  pleasant 
to  a  solitary  fellow  knocking  about  the  world  with  no 
ties  of  any  sort  to  keep  him  safe  and  steady.  He  felt 
the  need  of  them,  and  was  all  ready  to  give  away  his 
honest  heart,  if  he  could  find  any  amiable  creature  who 
could  be  satisfied  with  that  alone,  for  he  had  nothing 
else  to  offer.  He  was  rather  fastidious,  however,  having 
an  artist's  refined  taste  in  the  matter  of  beauty,  and 
a  manly  man's  love  of  the  womanliness  which  shows 
itself  in  character,  not  clothes.  But  he  had  few  oppor 
tunities  to  discover  his  ideal  woman,  and  no  desire  to 
worship  a  fashion  plate,  so  here  was  an  excellent  heart 
to  let,  and  no  one  knew  it,  unless  they  had  the  skill  to 
read  the  notice  in  the  window. 

The  reveries  of  both  young  people  were  rudely  dis 
turbed  by  the  "stout  party,"  who  having  finished  his 
paper,  and  taken  a  comprehensive  survey  of  his 
thoughtful  little  neighbor,  suddenly  began  to  talk  as  if 


A    CINDER  AND  A   SPARK.  253 

he  did  "appreciate  his  advantages,"  and  meant  tc 
make  the  most  of  them. 

John  watched  this  performance  with  deep  interest, 
and  it  soon  became  rather  exciting ;  for  Miss  Dolly'a 
face  was  a  tell-tale,  and  plainly  betrayed  the  rapid 
transitions  of  feeling  through  which  she  passed.  The 
respectful  attention  she  at  first  gave  in  deference  to  tho, 
age  of  the  speaker  changed  to  surprise,  then  to  annoy 
ance,  lastly  to  girlish  confusion  and  distress ;  for  the 
old  gentleman  was  evidently  of  the  Pecksniffian  order, 
and  took  advantage  of  his  gray  hairs  to  harass  the 
pretty  damsel  with  his  heavy  gallantry. 

Poor  Miss  Dolly  looked  vainly  about  her  for  any 
means  of  escape,  but  every  seat  was  full,  and  she  was 
quite  unconscious  that  an  irate  young  man  behind  her 
was  burning  to  rush  to  the  rescue  if  he  had  only 
known  how.  As  no  way  appeared,  John  was  forced  to 
content  himself  with  directing  such  fiery  glances  at  the 
broad  back  of  the  ancient  beau  it  was  a  wonder  they 
did  not  act  like  burning-glasses  and  set  that  expanse 
of  broadcloth  in  a  blaze. 

A  crisis  soon  arrived,  and  woman's  wit  turned  the 
tables  capitally ;  for  when  the  old  gentleman  confis 
cated  her  book  under  pretence  of  looking  at  it,  and 
then,  laying  his  arm  over  the  back  of  the  seat,  went  on 
talking  with  a  fat  smile  that  exasperated  her  beyond 
endurance,  Dolly  gave  him  one  indignant  glance  and 
opened  her  window,  letting  in  a  blast  of  cold  air  that 
made  her  tormentor  start  and  shiver  as  if  she  had 
boxed  his  ears. 

"Good!  if  that  does  not  rout  the  enemy,  I'm  much 
mistaken,"  said  John  to  himself,  enjoying  it  all  with  the 


254  INDEPENDENCE. 

relish  of  a  young  man  who  sees  an  old  one  usurping  hit 
privileges. 

The  enemy  was  not  routed,  but  his  guns  were  silenced ; 
for,  having  expostulated  with  paternal  solicitude,  he 
turned  up  his  coat-collar  and  retired  behind  his  paper, 
evidently  much  disgusted  at  finding  that  two  could 
play  at  the  game  of  annoyance,  though  the  girl  had  to 
call  the  elements  to  her  aid. 

"  If  I  dared,  I'd  offer  to  change  seats  with  him ;  not 
because  he  is  suffering  agonies  at  the  idea  of  getting 
tic-douloureux  or  a  stiff  neck,  that  would  only  serve  him 
right,  but  because  she  will  get  the  worst  of  it.  There, 
she  has  already !  Confound  that  cinder !  why  didn't  it 
go  into  his  eye  instead  of  hers  ?  "  added  John,  as  he  saw 
the  girl  shrink  suddenly,  and  begin  to  wink  and  rub 
her  eye  with  distressful  haste,  while  the  "  stout  party  " 
took  advantage  of  the  mishap  to  close  the  window  with 
an  expression  of  vengeful  satisfaction  on  his  rubicund 
visage.  He  offered  no  help,  for  his  first  rebuff  still 
rankled  in  his  memory,  but  placidly  twirled  his  thumbs, 
with  a  sidelong  glance  now  and  then  at  his  companion, 
who,  finding  all  her  winking  and  rubbing  in  vain, 
shrouded  her  face  in  a  veil,  and  sat  a  pathetic  picture 
of  beauty  in  distress,  with  an  occasional  tear  rolling 
over  her  cheek  and  her  dear  little  nose  reddening 
rapidly  with  the  general  inflammation  caused  by  that 
fatal  cinder. 

This  affecting  spectacle  was  too  much  for  John,  who 
not  only  felt  the  chivalrous  desire  of  a  man  to  help  the 
gentle  sex,  but  remembered  that  he  owed  the  girl  a 
good  turn  for  her  hospitality  the  day  before,  not  to 
mention  the  apology  he  quite  burned  to  make.  Know- 


A    CINDER  AND  A    SPARK.  £55 

ing  thai  the  train  would  soon  stop  a  few  minutes  for 
the  passengers  to  lunch,  he  resolved  then  and  there  to 
cast  himself  into  the  breach  and  deliver  the  doubly 
afflicted  damsel  at  all  costs. 

Happily  the  station  was  reached  before  any  great 
damage  was  done  to  the  girl's  features,  or  the  youi.g 
man's  impatience  became  uncontrollable.  The  instar.t 
the  stout  gentleman  rose  to  seek  refreshment  John 
dived  for  his  valise,  and,  cleaving  his  way  through  the 
ciowded  aisle,  presented  himself  beside  the  empty  place, 
asking,  with  an  attempt  to  look  and  speak  like  a  stranger, 
which  would  riot  have  deceived  Dolly  a  bit,  had  she  not 
been  half-blind,  "Is  this  seat  engaged,  madam?" 

"  No,  sir,"  she  answered,  unveiling  to  discover  what 
new  affliction  fate  had  sent  her. 

It  was  delightful  to  see  the  one  wistful  eye  light  up 
with  a  look  of  recognition,  the  one  visible  cheek  flush 
with  pleasure,  and  the  lips  smile  as  they  added,  with 
the  impulsive  frankness  of  a  tormented  girl,  "  Oh, 
please  take  it  quickly,  or  that  dreadful  man  will  come 
back !  " 

Quite  satisfied  with  his  welcome,  John  slipped  into 
the  coveted  place,  resolving  to  keep  it  in  spite  of  a 
dozen  stout  gentlemen. 

"  Thanks,  now  what  else  can  I  do  for  you  ?  "  he 
asked,  with  such  an  evident  desire  to  lend  a  hand  Home- 
where  that  it  was  impossible  to  decline  his  services. 

"  Could  you  take  this  thing  out  of  my  eye?  It 
hurts  dreadfully,  and  I  shall  be  a  spectacle  by  the  time 
I  get  to  Aunt  Maria's,"  answered  Dolly,  with  a  little 
moan  that  rent  the  hearer's  susceptible  heart. 

"  That  is  just  what  I  want  to  do,  and  you  may  trust 


256  INDEPENDENCE. 

me  ;  for  I've  been  a  great  traveller,  and  have  had  much 
experience  in  the  extraction  of  cinders,"  said  John, 
adding,  as  he  produced  a  pencil  in  a  capable  sort  of 
way,  "  now  open  your  eye  wide,  and  we'll  have  it  out 
in  a  jiffy." 

Dolly  obeyed  with  a  courage  and  confidence  most 
flattering,  and  John  peered  into  the  suffering  eye  with 
an  intensity  which  it  was  impossible  for  the  most  artful 
cinder  to  escape. 

"I  see  it !  "  he  cried,  and  turning  back  thi  lid  over 
his  pencil  he  delicately  removed  the  black  atom  with 
a  corner  of  Dolly's  veil. 

It  was  all  over  in  an  instant,  and  both  displayed 
great  nerve  and  coolness  during  the  operation  ;  but,  as 
soon  as  it  was  done,  Dolly  retired  into  her  handkerchief, 
and  John  found  himself  as  flushed  and  breathless  as  if 
he  had  faced  some  great  danger,  instead  of  merely  look 
ing  into  a  girl's  eye.  Ah  !  but  it  was  a  very  eloquent 
eye  in  spite  of  the  cinder,  —  large  and  soft,  tearful  and 
imploring,  and  the  instant  during  which  he  had  bent 
to  examine  it  had  been  a  most  exciting  one ;  for  the 
half-open  lips  were  so  near  his  own  their  hurried  breath 
fanned  his  cheek,  the  inquisitive  little  curl  tumbled 
over  her  ear  to  touch  his  wrist  as  he  held  up  the  eyelid, 
and  a  small  hand  had  unconsciously  clutched  softly  at 
his  arm  during  the  inspection.  Bless  you !  the  famous 
scene  between  Uncle  Toby  and  the  Widow  Wadman 
was  entirely  surpassed  on  this  occasion,  because  the 
actors  were  both  young  and  neither  artful. 

"Such  relief!"  sighed  Dolly,  emerging  from  a  brief 
retirement,  with  a  face  so  full  of  gratitude  that  it  was 
like  a  burst  of  sunshine  after  an  eclipse. 


A    CINDER  AND  A   SPARK.  257 

"  Let  me  see  if  it  is  all  right ; "  and  John  could  not 
n  sist  another  look  into  the  clear  depths  through  which 
he  seemed  to  catch  delicious  glimpses  of  an  innocent 
3  onng  heart  before  maiden  modesty  drew  the  curtain 
and  shut  him  out.  As  the  long  lashes  fell,  a  sudden 
color  in  her  cheeks  seemed  to  be  reflected  upon  his, 
and  with  a  hasty,  — 

"  It  is  a  good  deal  inflamed,  so  I'm  going  to  prescribe 
a  wet  bandage  for  a  few  minutes,  if  you  can  spare  your 
handkerchief,"  —  he  hurried  away  to  the  water  tank 
near  by. 

"  That's  very  comforting.  Thank  you  so  much !  " 
and  Dolly  patted  her  invalid  eye  assiduously;  while 
John,  feeling  that  he  had  earned  his  place,  planted  his 
valise  on  the  seat  with  a  defiant  glance  over  his  shoulder, 
then  turned  to  Dolly,  saying,  "  You  must  have  some 
lunch,"  and  waiting  for  no  denial  dashed  out  of  the  car 
as  if  on  an  errand  of  life  and  death. 

He  was  gone  but  a  moment  or  two ;  but  in  that  time 
Dolly  had  smoothed  her  hair,  retied  her  hat,  whisked 
i  nicer  pair  of  gloves  out  of  her  pocket,  and  taken  a 
rapid  survey  of  herself  in  a  tiny  glass  concealed  from 
other  eyes  in  the  recesses  of  her  bag.  She  had  just 
time  to  close  and  cast  the  aforesaid  bag  recklessly  upon 
tho  floor  as  her  knight  came  up,  bearing  a  cup  of  tea 
and  a  block  of  cake,  saying  in  the  pleasantly  protecting 
way  all  women  like,  — 

"  Dr.  Harris  prescribes  refreshment  after  the  opera 
tion,  and  this  is  the  best  he  can  find.  Your  aged 
admirer  was  at  the  counter,  eating  against  time  and 
defying  apoplexy,"  he  added  with  a  laugh,  as  Dolly 
gratefully  sipped  the  tea,  which,  by  the  way,  was  as 

17 


INDEPENDENCE. 

weak  as  that  made  at  the  famous  Boston  tea-party, 
when,  as  every  one  knows,  water  was  liberally  used. 

"You  saw  him,  then,  when  he  was  plaguing  me?" 

"I  did,  and  longed  to  throw  him  out  of  the  win 
dow." 

"  Thanks.     Did  you  recognize  me  before  you  spoke  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  did,  and  wanted  to  approach,  but  didn  t 
dare  till  the  cinder  gave  me  an  excuse." 

"  The  idea  of  being  afraid  of  me  !  " 

"How  could  I  help  being  afraid,  when  you  told  me 
Miss  Dolly  was  'awful'?"  asked  John,  twinkling  with 
fun,  as  he  sat  on  the  arm  of  a  seat  sociably  eating  a 
sandwich,  which  under  other  circumstances  would  have 
struck  him  as  being  a  remarkable  combination  of  saw 
dust  and  sole-leather. 

Before  Dolly  could  reply  except  by  a  guilty  blush,  a 
bell  rang,  and  John  hurried  away  with  the  empty  cup. 

A  moment  or  two  later  the  stout  gentleman  ap 
peared,  wiping  his  mouth,  evidently  feeling  in  a  better 
humor,  and  ready  to  make  up  with  his  pretty  neigh 
bor.  Smiling  blandly,  he  was  about  to  remove  the 
valise,  when  Miss  Dolly  laid  her  hand  upon  it,  saying 
with  great  dignity,  "  This  seat  is  engaged,  sir.  There 
are  plenty  of  others  now,  and  I  wish  this  for  my 
friend." 

Here  John,  who  was  just  behind,  seeing  his  prize  in 
danger,  gave  a  gentle  shove  to  several  intervening 
Ibl low-beings,  who  in  turn  propelled  the  "stout  party" 
past  the  disputed  place,  which  the  young  man  took 
with  an  air  of  entire  satisfaction,  and  a  hearty  "  Thank 
you!"  whici  told  Dolly  he  had  overheard  her  little 
speech. 


A   CINDER  AND  A   SPARK.  259 

She  colored  beautifUlly,  but  said  with  grateful  frank 
ness,  — 

"  It  wasn't  a  fib  :  a  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed, 
and  in  return  for  the  cinder  I'm  glad  to  give  you  a 
seat." 

"  Blessed  be  the  cinder,  then !  "  murmured  John, 
fueling  at  peace  with  all  mankind.  Then  taking  advan 
tage  of  the  propitious  moment,  he  added  in  a  peniten 
tial  tone,  — 

"  I  want  to  apologize  for  my  stupidity  and  uninten 
tional  rudeness  yesterday." 

"About  what?"  asked  Dolly,  innocently,  though  her 
eyes  began  to  sparkle  with  amusement. 

"  Why,  taking  it  into  my  head  that  Miss  Hill  must 
be  oldish,  and  going  on  in  that  absurd  way  about 
spinsters." 

"  Well,  I  am  a  spinster,  and  not  so  young  as  I  have 
been.  I  ought  to  apologize  for  not  telling  you  who  I 
was;  but  it  was  so  very  funny  to  hear  you  go  on  in  that 
sober  way  to  my  face,  I  couldn't  spoil  it,"  said  the  girl, 
with  a  look  that  upset  John's  repentant  gravity;  and 
they  laughed  together  as  only  the  young  and  happy 
can. 

"  It  is  very  good  of  you  to  take  it  so  kindly,  but  1 
assure  you  it  weighed  upon  my  conscience,  and  it  is  a 
great  relief  to  beg  pardon,"  he  said,  feeling  as  if  tbty 
had  been  friends  for  years. 

"  Have  you  been  sketching  old  things  ever  since  ?  " 
asked  Dolly,  changing  the  conversation  with  womanly 
tact. 

"Yes:  I  went  to  several  places  further  on,  but 
didn't  find  any  thing  half  so  good  as  your  chair  and 


260  INDEPENDENCE. 

tankard.     I  suppose  you  are  taking  the  relics  to  town 
now?" 

"All  but  one." 

"Which  is  that?" 

"The  pumpkin  hood.  It  is  the  only  thing  my  step 
mother  admires  among  my  treasures,  and  she  would 
not  give  it  up.  You  rather  admired  it,  didn't  you?" 
asked  Dolly,  with  her  demurest  air. 

"  I  deserve  to  be  laughed  at  for  my  panic,"  answered 
John,  owning  up  manfully ;  then  pulled  out  his  sketch 
book,  with  an  eye  to  business  even  in  the  middle  of  a 
joke. 

"  See  here  !  I  tried  to  get  that  venerable  hood  into 
my  sketch,  but  couldn't  quite  hit  it.  Perhaps  you  can 
help  me." 

"  Let  me  see  them  all,"  said  Dolly,  taking  possession 
of  the  book  with  a  most  flattering  air  of  interest. 

"Nothing  there  but  queer  or  famous  things,  all  a 
hundred  years  old  at  least,"  began  John,  quite  forgetting 
his  stolen  sketch  of  a  pretty  girl  cleaning  a  snuffer-tray, 
which  he  had  worked  up  with  great  care  the  night 
before.  Perhaps  this  made  the  book  open  at  that 
particular  page,  for,  as  the  words  left  his  lips,  Dolly's 
eyes  fell  on  her  own  figure,  too  well  done  to  be  mis 
taken,  even  if  the  artist's  face  had  not  betrayed  him. 

"  What  '  queer '  or  '  famous '  old  person  of  the  last 
century  is  that,  please?"  she  asked,  holding  it  off,  and 
looking  at  it  through  her  hand,  while  her  lips  broke 
into  a  smile  in  spite  of  her  efforts  to  look  unconscious. 

Knowing  that  a  pretty  woman  will  easily  forgive  a 
liberty  of  that  sort,  John  got  out  of  the  scrape  hand- 
gornely  by  answering  with  mock  gravity,  — 


A.    CINDER   AND   A    SfARK.  *^3 

"  Oh,  that's  Madam  Hancock,  when  a  girl.  Did  you 
never  see  the  famous  portrait  at  Portsmouth?" 

"  No.  The  dress  is  rather  modern,  and  not  quite  in 
keeping  with  the  antique  chair  she  is  sitting  in,"  ob 
served  the  girl,  critically. 

"That's  to  be  added  later.  I  have  to  work  up  things, 
you  know,  —  a  face  here,  a  costume  there,  and  so  on  :  all 
artists  do." 

"  So  I  see.  There's  the  hood  ;  but  it  wants  a  cape," 
and  Dolly  turned  the  leaf,  as  much  amused  at  his 
quickness  as  flattered  by  his  compliment. 

There  were  not  many  sketches  as  yet,  but  she  ad 
mired  them  all,  and,  when  the  book  was  shut,  chatted 
on  about  antiquities,  feeling  quite  friendly  and  comfort 
able  ;  for  there  was  respect,  as  well  as  admiration,  in 
the  honest  blue  eyes,  and  the  young  man  did  not 
offend  as  the  old  one  had  done. 

"  As  you  are  interested  in  curiosities,  perhaps  you 
may  like  to  see  some  that  I  have  here  in  my  bag.  1 
am  very  fond  and  proud  of  them,  because  they  are 
genuine,  and  have  histories  of  old  times  attached  to 
them,"  she  said  presently. 

"  I  shall  feel  much  honored  by  being  allowed  to  look 
at  them,"  replied  the  artist,  remembering  that  "  people 
used  to  laugh  at  poor  Miss  Dolly  and  her  cduds.'" 

"This  little  pin,  made  of  two  hearts  in  diamonds  and 
rubies,  with  a  crown  above,  used  to  be  worn  by  my 
mother's  great  aunt,  Madam  Hancock.  She  was  a 
Quincy,  you  know.  And  this  long  garnet  buckle 
fastened  the  Governor's  stock,"  began  Dolly,  displaying 
her  store  with  a  gentle  pride  pleasant  to  see. 

"Most  interesting!  but  I  can't  help  feeling  gratefu) 


262  INDEPENDENCE. 

that  this  J.  H.  doesn't  have  to  wear  a  stock  requiring 
a  foot-long  buckle  like  that,"  answered  John,  picturing 
himself  in  the  costume  of  the  past  century,  ani  won 
dering  if  it  would  suit  his  manly  face  and  figure. 

"  Now  don't  laugh  at  this  relic,  for  it  is  very  curious, 
though  you  won't  appreciate  it  as  a  woman  would ; " 
and  Dolly  unfolded  an  old-fashioned  housewife  of  red 
velvet,  lined  with  faded  yellow  damask.  "  That  was 
made  by  my  dear  mother  out  of  a  bit  of  the  velvet 
lining  of  the  Governor's  state-coach,  and  the  coverlet 
that  a  French  Comte  tore  with  his  spurs." 

"  Come,  that  sounds  well !  I  appreciate  coaches  and 
spurs,  if  I'm  not  up  to  brooches  and  needle-books. 
Tell  the  story,  please,"  besought  John,  who  found  it  the 
most  delightful  thing  in  the  world  to  sit  there,  following 
the  pretty  motions  of  the  small  hands,  the  changeful 
expression  of  the  winsome  face,  and  enjoying  the  com 
panionship  of  the  confiding  creature  beside  him. 

"  Well,  you  see,  when  Madam  married 'Captain  Scott 
many  of  the  Governor's  things  were  taken  from  her, 
among  them  the  state-coach.  By  the  way,  it  is  said  to 
be  in  existence  now,  stored  away  in  somebody's  barn 
down  in  Portland.  You  had  better  go  and  sketch  it," 
began  Dolly,  smoothing  out  the  old  housewife,  and 
evidently  glad  to  tell  the  little  story  of  the  ancestress 
whom  she  was  said  to  resemble,  though  she  modestly 
refrained  from  mentioning  a  fact  of  which  she  waa 
immensely  proud. 

"I  will!"  and  John  soberly  made  a  memorandum 
to  visit  the  ancient  coach. 

"When  my  great-great  aunt  was  told  she  must 
give  up  the  Carriage,  she  ripped  out  the  new  velvet 


A    CINDER   AND   A   SPARK.  23 

lining,  which  had  been  put  in  at  her  expense,  and 
gave  the  bits  to  her  various  nieces.  Mother  made 
a  spenoer  of  hers,  and  when  it  was  worn  out  kept 
enough  for  this  needle-book.  The  lining  is  a  scrap  of 
the  yellow  damask  counterpane  that  was  on  the  bed 
in  which  the  Frenchman  should  have  slept  when  he 
caine  with  Lafayette  to  visit  Madam,  only  he  was  so 
tipsy  he  laid  on  the  outside,  and  tore  the  fine  cover 
with  his  spurs.  There's  a  nice  Comte  for  you !  " 

"  Fd  like  to  see  the  spurs,  nevertheless.  Any  more 
treasures?"  and  John  peered  into  the  bag,  as  if  he 
thirsted  for  more  antiquarian  knowledge. 

"  Only  one,  and  this  is  the  most  valuable  of  all. 
Stoop  down  and  look  :  I'm  afraid  I  may  be  robbed,  if  I 
display  my  things  carelessly." 

John  obediently  bent  till  the  sweeping  feather  of  her 
hat  touched  his  cheek,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the 
banished  peri,  who  viewed  these  pleasant  passages  from 
afar  with  much  disfavor. 

"  This  is  said  to  be  Madam's  wedding  ring.  I  like 
to  think  so,  and  am  very  proud  to  be  named  for  her, 
because  she  was  a  good  woman  as  well  as  a  "  — 

"  Beauty,"  put  in  John,  as  the  speaker  paused  to  open 
H  faded  case  in  which  lay  a  little  ring  of  reddish  gold. 

"  I  was  going  to  say  —  as  well  as  a  brave  one ;  for 
I  need  courage,"  added  the  girl,  surveying  the  old- 
f-ishioned  trinket  with  such  a  sober  face  that  the  young 
man  refrained  from  alluding  to  the  remarkable  coinci 
dence  of  another  John  and  Dolly  looking  at  the  wed 
ding  ring  together. 

She  seemed  to  have  forgotten  all  about  her  com 
panion  for  a  moment,  and  be  busy  with  her  own 


204  INDEPENDENCE. 

thoughts,  as  she  put  away  her  treasures  with  a  car« 
which  made  it  a  pleasure  to  watch  her  tie  knots,  ad 
just  covers,  repack  her  little  bag,  and  finally  fold  her 
hands  over  it,  saying  gravely,  — 

kt  I  love  to  think  about  those  times ;  for  it  seems  as 
if  people  wrere  better  then, — the  men  more  honest,  the 
women  more  womanly,  and  every  thing  simpler  and 
truer  than  now.  Does  it  ever  seem  so  to  you  ?  " 

"  Indeed  it  does ;  for  this  very  day,  as  I  read  the 
papers,  I  got  quite  low-spirited,  thinking  what  a  shame 
ful  state  things  have  got  into.  Money  seems  to  bo  the 
one  idea,  and  men  are  ready  to  sell  their  souls  for  it," 
answered  John,  as  soberly  as  she. 

"Money  is  a  good  thing  to  have,  though;"  and 
Dolly  gave  a  little  sigh,  as  she  drew  her  scarf  over  the 
worn  edges  of  her  jacket. 

"  So  it  is  ! "  echoed  John,  with  the  hearty  acquiescence 
of  a  man  who  had  felt  the  need  of  it. 

"  My  name  and  these  old  treasures  are  all  my  fortune, 
and  I  used  to  be  contented  with  it ;  but  I'm  not  now, 
dependence  is  so  hateful !  "  added  the  girl,  impulsively ; 
then  bit  her  lip,  as  if  the  words  had  escaped  in  spite 
of  her. 

"  And  this  is  all  mine,"  said  John,  twirling  the  pencil 
which  he  still  held ;  giving  confidence  for  confidence, 
and  glad  to  do  it,  if  it  made  them  better  friends,  for  he 
pitied  little  Miss  Dolly,  suspecting  what  was  true,  that 
her  home  was  not  a  happy  one. 

She  thanked  him  mutely  for  the  kind  look  he  gave 
her,  and  said  prettily,  — 

"  Skill  is  money ;  and  it  must  be  a  very  pleasant 
life  to  go  about  drawing  beautiful  or  curious  things." 


A   CINDER  AND  A   SPARK.  265 

"  So  it  is  sometimes,  —  yesterday,  for  instance,"  ha 
answered,  laughing. 

"  -Thave  no  modern  accomplishments  to  earn  a  living 
by.  Mine  are  all  old-fashioned ;  and  no  one  cares  for 
such  nowadays,  except  in  servants.  1  may  be  very 
glad  of  them,  though;  for  playing  lady  doesn't  seem 
half  so  honest  as  going  out  to  service,  when  one  has 
nothing  but  an  empty  pair  of  hands,"  she  said  with  a 
wistful  yet  courageous  look  at  the  wintry  world  out 
side,  which  made  her  companion  feel  a  strong  desire  to 
counsel  and  protect  this  confiding  young  Columbus, 
who  knew  so  little  of  the  perils  which  would  beset  her 
voyage  in  search  of  a  woman's  El  Dorado. 

41  Come  to  me  for  a  recommendation  before  you  try 
it.  I  can  vouch  for  your  cooking,  you  know.  But  I'd 
advise  you  to  play  lady  till  you  discover  a  good  safe 
place.  I  don't  believe  you'll  find  it  hard,  for  the  world 
is  likely  to  be  very  kind  to  such  as  you,"  he  answered, 
so  cheerily  that  she  brightened  like  a  flower  to  which 
a  stray  sunbeam  is  very  welcome. 

A  shrill  whistle  announced  that  the  journey  was 
over,  and  everybody  began  at  once  to  fuss  and  fumble. 
John  got  up  to  take  his  valise  from  the  rack,  and  Dolly 
began  to  struggle  into  her  rubbers.  She  was  still 
bending  dowil  to  do  this,  with  as  little  damage  as 
possible  to  her  best  gloves,  when  she  heard  a  sounding 
slap  and  a  hearty  voice  cry  out,  — 

"  Hullo,  John ! "  then  add  in  a  lower  tone,  "  So  there 
is  a  Mrs.  Harris,  you  sly  dog,  you?" 

"  Hush !  there  isn't.  How  are  you,  George  ?  "  re 
turned  another  voice,  beginning  in  a  hurried  whispei 
and  ending  in  an  unnecessarily  loud  salutation. 


266  INDEPENDENCE. 

What  happened  for  a  minute  or  two  after  that  Dolly 
did  not  know ;  for  the  rubbers  proved  so  refractory  that 
she  only  rose  from  the  encounter  flushed  and  hurried, 
as  the  train  entered  the  station. 

"  Let  me  make  myself  useful  in  looking  after  your 
baggage,"  said  her  self-constituted  escort,  handing  her 
out  with  great  respect  and  care. 

"Thank  you  :  all  my  things  come  by  express,  so  I've 
nothing  to  do  but  get  into  a  carriage." 

;'  Then  allow  me  to  see  you  safely  there,  for  the  sake 
of  the  treasures,  if  nothing  else ; "  and  John  led  her  away, 
utterly  ignoring  the  presence  of  "  George,"  who  stood 
looking  after  them,  with  a  face  full  of  good-humored 
interest  and  amusement. 

"  I'm  very  much  obliged.  Good-by,"  said  Dolly,  from 
the  coach  window. 

"  Not  good-by :  I'm  coming  to  the  fair,  you  know," 
answered  John,  lingering  at  the  door  as  if  loath  to  lose 
sight  of  his  little  friend. 

"  I  forgot  all  about  it !  " 

"  I  didn't ;  for  I  depend  on  the  cakes  and  ale  and  all 
the  other  good  things  promised  rne." 

"  You  will  find  them  there,"  with  a  smile,  and  then 
a  sudden  blush  as  she  remembered  that  he  had  not 
only  agreed  to  speak  to  "  Miss  Dolly,"  but  to  "  win  her 
old  heart." 

He  remembered  also,  and  laughed  as  he  bowed  with 
the  same  audacious  look  he  had  worn  when  he  made 
that  rash  vow. 

"  I  wonder  if  he  will  come  ?  "  thought  the  girl,  as  she 
drove  away. 

"As  if  I  should  forget !"  said  John  to  himself,  as  he 


CONFIDENTIAL.  267 

trudged  through  the  snow,  quite  regardless  of  his  wait 
ing  friend ;  for  from  the  little  cinder  had  been  kindled 
a  spark  of  the  divine  fire  that  moves  one  of  the  great 
engines  which  transport  mankind  all  the  world  over. 


CHAPTER  III. 
CONFIDENTIAL. 

JOHN  HARRIS  promised  to  "  do "  the  fair,  and  kept 
his  word  handsomely ;  for  he  was  there  every  day  for  a 
week,  lunching  in  the  old-fashioned  kitchen,  and  then, 
in  his  official  capacity,  sketching  every  relic  he  could 
lay  his  eyes  on.  Such  punctuality  caused  the  pretty 
waiters  to  smile  affably  upon  this  faithful  devourer  of 
primitive  viands,  and  the  matrons  to  predict  great  things 
from  the  young  artist's  application  to  his  work. 

Little  guessed  the  girls  and  the  gossips  that  love  was 
ravaging  their  generous  patron's  heart  more  persistently 
than  he  did  their  tables,  and  that  nature  not  art  caused 
his  devotion  to  modern  beauty  rather  than  ancient 
ugliness.  For  all  John  saw  in  the  crowd  that  filled 
the  place  was  Dolly,  tripping  to  and  fro  tray  in  hand, 
spinning  at  her  wheel,  or  resting  beside  Aunt  Maiia, 
twin  sister  of  Mrs.  Hill,  in  an  imposing  cap  instead  of 
the  pumpkin  hood.  Pretty  Dolly  was  the  belle  of  the 
kitchen;  for  she  alone  of  all  the  dozen  damsels  on  duty 
looked  her  part,  and  was  in  truth  a  country  girl,  rich  in 
the  old-fashioned  gifts  and  graces  of  health,  modesty, 


268  INDEPENDENCE. 

housewifely  skill,  and  the  sweet  maklenliness  which 
girls  who  come  out  at  sixteen  soon  lose  for  ever.  Her 
dress,  too,  was  wonderfully  complete  and  becoming, 
though  only  a  pink  and  white  chintz,  a  mob-cap,  and  an 
uncompromising  apron,  with  the  pin-ball,  scissors,  keys, 
and  linen  pocket  hanging  at  the  side.  The  others 
looked  like  stage  soubrettes,  and  acted  like  coquettish 
young  ladies  who  knew  nothing  about  their  work. 
But  Dolly  was  genuine  throughout,  so  she  proved  a 
great  success ;  and  Aunt  Maria  took  all  the  credit  of 
it  to  herself,  felt  that  she  had  done  a  good  thing  in 
bringing  so  much  youth,  energy,  and  loveliness  to 
market,  and  expressed  her  satisfaction  by  talking  a 
great  deal  about  "our  family,"  which,  as  she  was  a 
Smith,  was  certainly  large  enough  to  furnish  endless 
gossip. 

Another  person  watched,  admired,  and  hovered 
about  the  girl  like  a  blue-bottle  fly  about  a  rose ;  and 
that  was  Mr.  Aaron  Parker,  a  dapper  little  man  of  fifty, 
who,  having  made  a  snug  fortune,  was  now  anxious  to 
marry  and  settle.  Aunt  Maria  was  evidently  his  confi 
dant  and  friend ;  and  it  was  soon  apparent  that  Aunt 
Maria  intended  to  make  a  match  between  her  niece  and 
this  amiable  gentleman,  who  set  about  his  wooing  with 
old-fashioned  formality  and  deliberation. 

All  this  John  saw,  heard,  or  divined  with  the  keen 
ness  of  a  lover,  while  he  watched  the  events  of  that 
week;  for  he  very  soon  made  up  his  mind  that  he 
adored  "  Miss  Dolly,"  as  he  always  called  her  to  him 
self.  The  short  time  which  had  elapsed  between  the 
car  episode  and  the  opening  of  the  fair  seemed  endless 
to  him ;  and,  when  he  came  beaming  into  the  kitchen 


CONFIDENTIAL.  269 

the  very  first  day,  his  heart  sang  for  joy  at  sight  of 
that  bonny  face  once  more.  She  welcomed  him  so 
kindly,  served  him  RO  prettily,  and  showed  such  frank 
and  friendly  pleasure  at  meeting  him  again,  that  the 
lonely  fellow  felt  as  if  he  had  suddenly  found  a  large 
and  attached  family,  and  yielded  to  the  charm  without 
a  struggle.  She  seemed  to  belong  to  him  somehow,  as 
if  he  had  discovered  her,  and  had  the  first  right  to 
admire,  help,  and  love  her ;  for  he  alone  of  all  the  men 
there  had  seen  her  at  home,  had  looked  deepest  into 
the  shy,  bright  eyes,  and  heard  her  call  him  "friend." 

This  delightful  state  of  things  lasted  for  a  few  days, 
during  which  he  felt  as  if  quaffing  nectar  and  tasting 
ambrosia,  while  he  drank  the  promised  cider  and  ate 
the  spicy  "sweethearts"  which  Dolly  always  brought 
him  with  a  smile  that  went  directly  to  his  head,  and 
produced  a  delicious  sort  of  intoxication.  He  never 
could  have  but  a  word  or  two,  she  was  so  busy ;  but, 
as  he  sat  apart,  pretending  to  sketch,  he  was  living  over 
those  brief,  blissful  moments,  and  concocting  wonder 
fully  witty,  wise,  or  tender  speeches  for  the  morrow. 

Well  for  him  that  no  one  looked  over  his  shoulder  at 
such  times,  for  his  portfolio  would  have  betrayed  him, 
since  it  was  a  wild  jumble  of  andirons  and  mob-caps? 
antique  pepper-pots  and  pretty  profiles,  spinning-wheels, 
and  large  eyes  with  a  profusion  of  lash;  while  a  dainty 
pair  of  feet  in  high-heeled  slippers  seemed  to  dance 
from  page  after  page,  as  if  the  artist  vainly  sought  to 
exorcise  some  persistent  fancy  by  booking  it  over  and 
over  again. 

Suddenly  a  change  appeared  both  in  the  man  and  in 
his  work;  for  Parker  had  arrived,  and  clouds  began  to 


270  INDEPENDENCE. 

gather  on  the  horizon  which  was  rosy  with  the  dawn 
of  love.  Now  John  discovered  that  the  cider  was  sour 
and  the  cake  stale,  for  the  calls  of  a  voracious  rival 
cruelly  abbreviated  his  moments  of  bliss.  Now  lie 
glared  and  brooded  in  corners  where  once  he  had 
revelled  in  dreams  of  a  dim  but  delightful  future.  Now 
the  pages  of  his  sketch-book  bore  grotesque  likenesses* 
of  a  round,  snub-nosed  countenance  in  all  sorts  of  quee* 
places,  such  as  a  clock-face,  under  a  famous  cocked  hat, 
or  peeping  out  of  a  memorable  warming-pan ;  while  a- 
dapper  figure  was  seen  in  various  trying  attitudes,  the 
most  frequent  being  prone  before  the  dancing  feet,  one 
of  which  was  usually  spurning  a  fat  money-bag,  with 
contempt  in  every  line  of  the  pretty  slipper. 

At  this  stage,  the  fair  ended,  and  Aunt  Maria  bore 
the  charmer  away,  leaving  John  to  comfort  himself 
with  the  memory  of  a  parting  look  of  regret  from 
behind  Governor  Hancock's  punch-bowl,  which  Dolly 
embraced  with  one  arm,  while  the  other  guarded 
Madam's  best  china  tea-pot. 

Maddening  was  it  to  haunt  the  street  before  Aunt 
Maria's  door,  and  hear  a  gay  voice  singing  inside  fit  to 
melt  a  paving  stone,  to  say  nothing  of  a  young  man's 
heart.  More  maddening  still  to  catch  occasional 
glimpses  of  the  girl  shut  up  in  a  carriage  with  the 
dragon,  or  at  concerts  and  theatres  under  the  escort 
of  Mr.  Parker.  But  most  maddening  of  all  was  the 
frequent  spectacle  of  this  enamoured  gentleman  trot 
ting  up  the  street,  simpering  to  himself  as  he  went,  and 
freely  entering  at  the  door  which  shut  the  younger 
lover  out  of  Paradise. 

At  such  trying  periods,  John   (now  very  far  gone 


CONFIDENTIAL.  271 

indeed,  for  love  feeds  on  air)  would  feel  a  wild  desire 
to  knock  the  little  man  down,  storm  Aunt  Maria's  man 
sion,  and  carry  his  Dolly  away  from  what  he  felt 
assured  was  an  irksome  bondage  to  the  girl.  But,  alas  ! 
where  could  he  carry  the  dear  creature  when  he  had 
got  her?  For  all  the  home  he  possessed  was  one  room 
in  a  dull  boarding-house,  and  his  only  fortune  the 
salary  his  pencil  earned  him.  Then,  as  he  groaned  over 
these  sad  facts,  a  great  temptation  would  assail  him; 
for  he  remembered  that  with  a  word  he  could  work 
the  miracle  which  would  give  him  half  a  million,  and 
make  all  things  possible  but  the  keeping  of  his  own 
self-respect. 

Hard  times  just  then  for  John  Harris ;  and  for  some 
weeks  he  went  about  his  daily  duties  with  such  a 
divided  mind  and  troubled  spirit  that  the  stoniest 
heart  might  have  pitied  him.  But  comfort  came  when 
least  expected,  and  in  trying  to  help  another  he  got 
help  himself  and  hope  beside. 

One  gusty  March  morning  he  arrayed  himself  in  his 
best,  put  a  posy  in  his  buttonhole,  and  went  gallantly 
away  to  Aunt  Maria's  door,  bound  to  make  a  call  in 
spite  of  her  frowns  at  the  fair,  and  evident  desire  to 
ignore  his  existence  since.  Boldly  ringing  the  forbid 
den  bell,  he  inquired  for  the  ladies.  Both  were 
engaged ;  and,  as  if  nothing  should  be  wanting  to  his 
chagrin,  as  he  went  down  the  steps  Mr.  Parker,  bear 
ing  a  suggestive  bouquet,  went  up  and  was  instantly 
admitted. 

It  was  too  much  for  poor  John,  who  rushed  away 
into  the  park,  and  pulling  his  hat  over  his  eyes  tramped 
wrathfully  down  the  mall,  muttering  to  himself,  — 


272  INDEPENDENCE. 

"  It's  no  use ;  I  must  give  in ;  for  with  a  fortune  in 
my  pocket  I  could  carry  all  before  me,  —  bribe  Aunt 
Maria,  outbid  Aaron,  and  win  my  Dolly,  if  I'm  not 
much  mistaken." 

Just  then  a  sharp  yelp  roused  him  from  his  excited 
reverie,  and  looking  up  he  found  that  he  had  kicked  a 
fat  poodle,  who  was  waddling  slowly  along,  while  some 
way  before  him  went  a  little  figure  in  a  gray  hat,  at 
sight  of  which  John's  heart  gave  a  leap.  Here  was 
bliss !  Dolly  alone  at  last,  and  he  could  defy  the 
dragon  and  all  her  machinations.  Parker  and  his  fine 
bouquet  were  nowhere ;  Harris  and  his  buttonhole 
posy  had  the  best  of  it  now;  and,  leaving  the  fat 
poodle  to  whine  and  waddle  at  its  own  sweet  will,  the 
happy  man  hurried  forward  to  make  the  most  of  this 
propitious  moment. 

As  he  drew  near,  he  observed  that  a  handkerchief 
went  more  than  once  to  the  face  which  drooped  in  a 
thoughtful  way  as  the  feet  paced  slowly  on. 

"  Bless  her  heart !  she  is  catching  cold,  and  dreaming 
dreams,  here  all  alone,"  thought  John,  as,  stepping  to 
her  side,  he  said  gently,  that  he  might  not  startle  her, 
"  Good-morning,  Miss  Dolly." 

He  did  startle  her,  nevertheless,  and  himself  as  well ; 
for,  as  she  turned  quickly,  he  saw  that  her  face  was 
bathed  in  tears.  Instantly  all  his  own  troubles  took 
wing ;  and,  with  no  thought  but  how  to  comfort  her,  he 
«aid  impetuously, — 

"I  beg  pardon,  but  do  tell  me  what  is  the  matter?" 
He  came  upon  her  so  suddenly  that  there  was  no  time 
to  hide  the  tell-tale  tears.  He  looked  so  eager,  kind,  and 
helpful,  she  could  not  be  offended  at  his  words;  and 


CONFIDENTIAL.  273 

just  then  she  needed  a  friend  so  much,  it  was  hard 
to  resist  confiding  in  him.  Yet,  womanlike,  she  tried 
to  hide  her  little  worries,  to  make  light  of  her  girlish 
giief,  and  turn  a  brave  face  to  the  world.  So  she 
brushed  the  drops  from  her  eyes,  put  on  a  smile,  and 
answered  stoutly,  — 

"  It  was  very  foolish  of  me  to  cry,  but  it  is  so  dull 
and  lonely  here  I  think  I  was  a  little  homesick." 

"  Then  perhaps  you  won't  mind  if  I  walk  on  a  bit 
with  you  and  apologize  for  kicking  your  little  dog?" 
said  John,  artfully  availing  himself  of  this  excuse. 

"No,  indeed.  He  is  Aunt  Maria's  dog;  but  how 
came  you  to  do  it?"  asked  the  girl,  plainly  showing 
that  a  human  companion  was  very  welcome. 

"  I  was  in  a  brown  study,  and  did  it  by  accident. 
He's  so  fat  it  didn't  hurt  him  much,"  answered  the 
young  man,  assuming  his  gayest  manner  for  her  sake. 
Then  he  added,  with  an  excuse  which  did  not  deceive 
her  a  bit,  — 

"  The  fact  is,  I'd  ventured  to  call  on  you  to  see  if 
I  could  get  a  sketch  of  the  punch-bowl ;  but  you 
were  engaged,  the  girl  said,  and  I  was  rather  disap 
pointed." 

"  What  a  fib  !  I'm  sorry  I  was  out ;  but  the  house  was 
gloomy  and  Aunt  rather  cross,  so  I  ran  away  under 
pretence  of  giving  old  Tip  an  airing." 

"Ah,  you  don't  know  what  you  lost!  Mr.  Parker 
went  m  as  I  came  out,  with  such  a  nosegay !  —  for  Aunt 
Maria,  I  suppose?"  and  John  tried  to  look  quite  easy 
and  gay  as  he  spoke. 

Dolly's  face  darkened  ominously,  and  a  worried  look 
came  into  her  eyes  as  she  glanced  behind  her,  then 

18 


274  INDEPENDENCE. 

quickened  het  steps,  saying,  with  a  little  groan  that 
was  both  comic  and  pathetic,  — 

"  It  does  seem  as  if  it  was  my  doom  to  be  tormented 
by  old  gentlemen  !  I  wish  you'd  get  rid  of  this  one  as 
you  did  of  the  other." 

"  Nothing  would  give  me  greater  pleasure,"  answered 
John,  with  such  heartiness  that  a  sudden  color  dried 
Dolly's  wet  cheeks,  as  she  remembered  that  he  had  got 
rid  oi  tormentor  number  one  by  taking  his  place. 

Cheered  by  the  knowledge  that  a  champion  was 
ready  to  defend  her,  she  ventured  to  show  him  a  safer 
way  in  which  to  serve  her,  saying  very  soberly,  — 

"  I  think  I  may  be  glad  of  the  recommendation  you 
once  promised  me.  Should  you  mind  giving  it  ?  " 

"Are  you  tired  of  'playing  lady'  so  soon?"  he 
asked  anxiously. 

"  So  tired  that  I  felt  to-day  as  if  I'd  like  to  run  away 
and  take  service  with  the  first  person  who  would  en 
gage  me." 

"Don't!"  exclaimed  John,  with  such  energy  that 
the  fat  poodle  barked  shrilly  and  made  a  feeble  charge 
at  his  boots,  feeling  that  something  was  wrong  some 
where.  "  Run  away  home,  if  you  must  run,  but  pray 
don't  get  discouraged  and  do  any  thing  rash,"  he  went 
on  with  great  earnestness ;  for  he  saw  by  her  face  that 
she  was  in  some  real  trouble. 

"I  haven't  even  a  home  to  run  to;  for  Mrs.  Hill 
agrees  with  Aunt  that  it's  time  I  ceased  to  be  a  burden. 
It's  very  hard,  when  I  only  ask  a  safe  corner  in  the 
world,  and  am  willing  to  work  for  it,"  cried  the  girl, 
with  an  irrepressible  sob ;  for  the  trials  of  many  weeks 
had  grown  unbearable,  and  a  kind  word  made  the  full 
heart  overflow, 


CONFIDENTIAL.  276 

Neither  spoke  for  a  minute,  then  John  said  with  a 
respectful  earnestness  which  touched  her  very  much,  — 

"  Miss  Dolly,  you  once  called  me  a  friend,  and  I  was 
very  proud  to  be  so  honored.  Forget  that  I  am  any 
thing  else,  and,  if  you  have  no  one  wiser  and  older  to 
consult,  trust  me,  and  let  me  help  you.  I've  knocked 
about  the  world  enough  to  know  how  hard  it  is  for  a 
man  to  get  an  honest  living,  doubly  hard  for  a  woman, 
especially  one  as  young  and  beautiful  as  you  are. 
There  are  safe  corners,  I  am  sure  ;  but  it  takes  time  to 
find  them,  so  pray  be  patient  and  do  nothing  without 
care." 

"  I  called  you  a  friend  in  need,  and  so  you  are ;  for, 
strange  as  it  may  seem,  there  is  no  one  to  whom  I  can 
go  for  disinterested  advice.  I  know  so  little  of  the 
world  that  I'm  afraid  to  trust  my  own  judgment,  yet 
I  am  driven  to  decide  between  dependence  of  a  sort 
I  despise,  or  to  stand  alone  and  take  care  of  myself. 
Will  you  advise  me?"  and  she  looked  up  with  an 
appealing  glance,  which  read  such  a  reassuring  answer 
in  the  honest  eyes  full  of  sincerest  sympathy  that  she 
was  comforted  before  he  spoke. 

"  Indeed  I  will !  for  what  are  we  all  here  for,  if  not 
to  help  one  another?  Do  you  know  I  think  there  is  a 
sort  of  fate  about  these  things,  and  it's  no  use  to  strug 
gle  against  it.  We  seem  to  be  two  'lone,  lorn'  crea 
tures  thrown  together  in  queer  ways,  so  let's  agree  to 
be  old  friends  and  stand  by  each  other.  Come,  is  it 
a  bargain  ?  " 

He  seemed  so  firmly  convinced  of  the  inevitability 
of  this  fate  that  the  girl  felt  relieved  from  farther  scru 
ples,  and  agreed  in  all  good  faith 


276  INDEPENDENCE. 

"Now  about  the  troubles?"  began  John,  trying  to 
look  old,  reliable,  and  wise ;  for  he  guessed  the  one 
she  was  most  reluctant  to  tell. 

"  I  suppose  marrying  for  an  establishment  or  earning 
their  bread  is  a  question  most  poor  girls  have  to  settle 
sooner  or  later,"  observed  Dolly,  in  a  general  sort  of 
way,  as  an  opening;  for,  in  spite  of  his  praiseworthy 
efforts,  her  young  counsellor  did  not  succeed  in  looking 
like  a  sage. 

"  If  pretty,  yes ;  if  plain,  no.  We  needn't  discuss 
the  latter  class,  but  go  on  to  the  question,"  returned 
John,  keeping  to  the  subject  in  hand  with  masculine 
pertinacity. 

"I'd  rather  be  an  old  man's  housekeeper  than  his 
wife ;  but  people  won't  believe  it,  and  laugh  at  me  for 
being  what  they  call  so  foolish,"  said  the  girl,  petulantly ; 
for  she  did  not  seem  to  be  getting  on  well  with  her 
confidences. 

"I  thought  from  what  I  saw  at  the  fair  that  Parker 
seemed  ready  to  offer  both  situations  for  your  accept 
ance." 

John  could  not  help  saying  that,  for  a  jealous  pang 
assailed  him  at  the  mere  idea.  He  feared  that  he  had 
spoilt  the  role  he  was  trying  to  play ;  but  it  happened 
to  be  the  best  thing  he  could  have  done,  for  the  intro- 
.luction  of  that  name  made  things  much  easier  for 
Polly,  a,s  she  proved  by  kindling  up  as  suddenly  as 
if  the  word  had  been  a  match  to  fire  a  long  train  of 
grievances. 

"He  did;  and  Aunt  scolds  me  from  morning  til] 
night,  because  I  won't  accept  the  fine  establishment  he 
offers  me.  That's  what  I  was  sent  here  for  !  M}  step- 


CONFIDENTIAL.  277 

mother  wants  me  out  of  the  way,  Aunt  Maria  hands 
mo  over  to  Mr.  Parker,  and  he  takes  me  because  I 
know  how  to  cook  and  nurse.  I  might  as  well  be  put 
up  at  auction  and  sold  to  the  highest  bidder ! "  she 
cried,  with  eyes  flashing  through  indignant  tears. 

"It's  abominable!"  echoed  John,  with  equal  indig. 
nation,  though  the  words  "highest  bidder  "'rung  in  his 
ears,  as  he  thought  of  the  fortune  waiting  for  him,  and 
the  youth  which  would  tell  so  strongly  in  the  race 
against  "old  Parker,"  as  he  irreverently  called  the 
little  man ;  for  fifty  seems  a  patriarchal  age  to  four-and- 
twenty. 

"  I  know  that  sort  of  thing  is  done  every  day,  and 
thought  quite  right ;  but  I  am  so  old-fashioned  it  seems 
terrible  to  marry  merely  for  a  home.  Yet  I'm  very 
tired  of  being  poor,  and  I  should  like  a  taste  of  ease 
and  pleasure  while  I  can  enjoy  them,"  added  Dolly, 
with  a  very  natural  longing  for  the  bright  and  happy 
side  of  life. 

"And  I  could  give  her  all  she  wants,"  thought  John, 
with  the  temptation  getting  stronger  every  minute. 
But  he  only  said  a  little  bitterly,  "  You'd  better  give 
in,  if  you  want  ease  and  pleasure,  for  money  can  buy 
any  thing." 

"  No,  it  can't  buy  love,  and  that  is  better  than  all 
the  splendor  in  the  world,"  answered  the  girl,  in  a  tone 
that  thrilled  her  hearer  to  the  heart.  "  What  I  call 
love  seems  to  have  gone  out  of  fashion  ;  and  that  is  what 
troubles  me ;  because,  if  there  isn't  any  such  thing,  I  may 
as  well  take  the  next  best,  and  try  to  be  contented. 
No  one  seems  to  value  love  for  itself  alone,  to  feel  the 
need  of  it  as  much  as  light  and  air,  to  miss  it  when  it 


278  INDEPENDENCE. 

goes,  or  try  to  earn  and  keep  it  as  the  most  precious  thing 
in  the  world.  Money  and  position  are  every  thing,  and 
men  work  and  women  marry  for  these,  as  if  they  had 
no  other  hope  or  end;  and  I'm  frightened  at  the  things 
I  see  and  hear  in  what  is  called  society." 

"Poor  child,  I  don't  wonder;  but  I  assure  you  there 
is  an  ocean  of  love  in  the  world,  only  it  gets  put  out  of 
sight  in  the  rush,  wasted  on  those  who  don't  deserve 
it,  or  dammed  up  by  adverse  circumstances.  It  exists 
though,  the  real  genuine  article,  waiting  for  a  market. 
Do  believe  it,  and  wait  for  it,  and  I'm  sure  it  will  come 
in  time." 

John  was  so  divided  between  a  rash  impulse  to 
prove  his  point  by  a  declaration  then  and  there,  and 
the  conviction  that  it  would  be  altogether  premature, 
his  metaphors  got  rather  mixed,  and  he  had  to  pull 
himself  up  abruptly.  But  Dolly  thought  it  a  beautiful 
speech,  was  glad  to  believe  every  word  of  it,  and  ac 
cepted  this  piece  of  advice  with  admirable  docility. 

"  I'll  wait,  and  meantime  be  looking  about  for  the 
safe  corner  to  run  to  when  Aunt  Maria  gets  tired  of 
me,  because  I  don't  mean  to  go  home  again  to  be  a 
burden."  Then,  as  if  anxious  to  slip  away  from  a  too 
interesting  topic,  she  asked  with  a  very  winning  ex 
pression  of  interest  and  good-will,  — 

"Now  what  can  I  do  for  you?  I'm  sure  jou  have 
worries  as  well  as  I,  and,  though  not  very  wise,  perhaps 
I  might  advise  in  my  turn." 

"You  are  very  good,  but  I  couldn't  think  of  trou 
bling  you ; "  and  the  young  man  looked  both  pleased 
and  flurried  by  the  girl's  offer. 

"  We  agreed  to  help  one  another,  you  reniernbor ;  and 


CONFIDENTIAL.  279 

I  must  do  my  part,  or  the  bargain  won't  be  a  fair  one. 
Tell  me  what  the  brown  study  was  about,  and  I'll  for 
give  the  kick  poor  Tip  got,"  persisted  Dolly;  for  her 
feminine  instinct  told  her  that  a  heavy  cloud  of  some 
sort  had  been  lifted  to  let  sunshine  through  for  her. 

John  did  long  to  know  her  opinion  on  a  certain 
matte" ,  but  a  man's  pride  would  not  let  him  speak  as 
freely  as  the  girl  had  done,  so  he  took  refuge  in  a  mild 
subterfuge,  and  got  advice  on  false  pretences. 

"  It  was  only  a  quandary  I  was  in  about  a  friend  of 
mine.  He  wants  my  judgment  in  a  case  something 
like  yours,  and  perhaps  you  could  help  me  with  an 
opinion ;  for  women  are  very  wise  in  such  matters 
sometimes." 

"  Please  tell  me,  if  you  may.  I  should  so  love  to 
pay  my  debts  by  being  of  some  use ; "  and  Dolly  was 
all  attention,  as  she  pushed  back  her  vail  as  if  to  get  a 
clear  and  impartial  view  of  the  case  about  to  be  sub 
mitted. 

Fixing  his  eyes  on  the  sparrows  who  were  disport 
ing  themselves  among  the  budding  elm-boughs,  John 
plunged  abruptly  into  his  story,  never  once  looking  at 
his  hearer  and  speaking  so  rapidly  that  he  was  rathei 
red  and  breathless  when  he  got  through. 

"  You  see,  Jack  was  plodding  along  after  a  fashion 
all  by  himself,  his  people  being  dead,  when  an  old 
friend  of  his  father's  took  it  into  his  head  to  say, 4  Como 
and  be  a  son  to  me,  and  I'll  leave  you  a  handsome 
fortune  when  I  die.'  A  capital  thing  it  seemed,  and 
Jack  accepted,  of  course.  But  he  soon  found  that  he 
had  given  up  his  liberty,  and  was  a  slave  to  a  very 
tyrannical  master,  who  claimed  him  soul  and  body, 


280  INDEPENDENCE. 

heart  and  mind.  That  didn't  suit  Jack,  and  he  would 
have  broken  away ;  but,  as  you  say,  he  was  '  tired  oi 
being  poor,  and  wanted  a  little  ease  and  pleasure  in  his 
life.'  The  old  man  was  failing,  and  the  money  would 
soon  be  his,  so  he  held  on,  till  he  suddenly  discovered 
that  this  fortune  for  which  he  was  waiting  was  not 
honest  money,  but,  like  many  another  great  fortune, 
had  been  ground  out  of  the  poor,  swindled  out  of  honest 
men,  or  stolen  from  trusting  friends,  and  hoarded  up 
for  a  long  lifetime,  to  be  left  to  Jack  with  the  curse  of 
dishonesty  upon  it.  Would  you  advise  him  to  take 
it?" 

"No,"  answered  the  girl,  without  a  moment's  hesi 
tation. 

"  Well,  he  didn't,  but  turned  his  back  on  the  ill- 
gotten  money,  and  went  to  work  again  with  clean 
but  empty  hands,"  added  John,  still  looking  away, 
though  his  face  wore  a  curiously  excited  expression 
under  its  enforced  composure. 

"I'm  glad,  very  glad  he  did!  Wasn't  it  noble  oi 
him?"  asked  Dolly,  full  of  admiring  interest  in  this 
unknown  Jack. 

"  It  was  very  hard ;  for  you  see  he  loved  somebody, 
and  stood  a  poor  chance  of  winning  her  without  a 
p^nny  in  his  pocket." 

"  All  the  nobler  in  him  then ;  and,  if  she  was  worth 
winning,  she'd  love  him  the  more  for  the  sacrifice,"  said 
Dolly,  warmly ;  for  the  romance  of  the  story  took  her 
fancy,  though  it  was  poorly  told. 

"  Think  so  ?  I'll  mention  that  to  Jack :  it  will  cheer 
him  up  immensely,  for  he's  afraid  to  try  his  fate  with 
nothing  to  offer  but  his  earnings." 


CONFIDENTIAL.  281 

"  What's  his  business?"  asked  Dolly  suddenly. 

"Connected  with  newspapers,  —  fair  salary,  good 
prospects,  —  not  ashamed  to  work,"  answered  John, 
staring  hard  at  the  sparrows,  and  wiping  his  forehead, 
as  if  he  found  the  bleak  day  getting  too  warm  for  him 

"  Is  the  girl  pretty  ?  " 

"  The  most  captivating  little  creature  I  ever  beheld  \ " 
cried  John,  rapturously. 

"  Oh,  indeed,"  and  Dolly  glanced  at  him  sharply,  while 
a  shadow  passed  over  her  face,  as  she  asked  with  re 
doubled  interest,  "  Is  she  rich  ?  " 

"  Has  nothing  but  her  sweet  face  and  good  name  I 
believe." 

"  Isn't  that  enough?  " 

"  Indeed  it  is !  but  Jack  wants  to  make  life  beautiful 
and  easy  for  her,  and  he  can  by  saying  a  word.  He  is 
awfully  tempted  to  say  it ;  for  the  old  man  is  dying,  has 
sent  for  him  to  come  back,  and  there  is  yet  time  to 
secure  a  part  of  the  fortune.  He  won't  take  it  all,  but 
has  a  fancy  that,  if  he  leaves  half  to  charity,  it  would  be 
i  sort  of  purification  to  the  other  half;  and  he  might 
enjoy  it  with  his  love.  Don't  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  No,  it  would  spoil  the  whole  thing.  Why  cannot 
they  be  contented  to  begin  with  nothing  but  love,  and 
work  up  together,  earning  every  clean  and  honest  penny 
they  spend.  It  would  be  a  comfort  to  see  such  a  pair 
in  this  mercenary  world,  and  I  do  hope  they  will  do  it," 
said  the  girl,  heartily,  though  a  slightly  pensive  tone 
had  come  into  her  voice,  and  she  stifled  a  small  sigh,  as 
she  put  down  her  vail  as  if  there  was  nothing  worth 
seeing  in  the  landscape. 

"I  think  they  will  try  it!"   answered   John,  with 


282  INDEPENDENCE. 

decision,  as  he  smiled  sympathetically  at  a  pair  of 
sparrows  chirping  together  at  the  door  of  one  of  the 
desirable  family  mansions  provided  for  their  use. 

Here  Tip  ended  the  dangerous  dialogue  by  sitting 
down  before  Dolly  with  a  howl  of  despair,  which  recalled 
her  to  her  duty. 

"  The  poor  old  thing  is  tired,  and  must  go  in.  Good- 
morning,  and  many  thanks,"  she  said,  turning  toward 
the  steps,  which  they  would  have  passed  unseen  but  for 
the  prudent  poodle's  hint. 

"  Good-by,  and  a  thousand  pardons  for  boring  you 
with  my  affairs,"  began  John,  with  a  penitent,  yet  very 
grateful  glance. 

"  By  the  way,  I've  been  so  interested  in  Jack's  affairs 
that  I've  forgotten  exactly  what  your  advice  was  to  me," 
she  added,  pausing  on  the  upper  step  for  a  last  word. 

With  his  hat  in  his  hand  and  his  heart  in  his  eyes, 
John  looked  up  and  answered  in  a  tone  that  made  few 
words  necessary,  — 

"Don't  sell  yourself  for  a  home." 

And  Dolly  answered  back  with  a  sweet,  shrewd  smile 
that  made  him  flush  guiltily, — 

"  Don't  smother  your  conscience  with  a  fortune." 


APRIL  FOOLS.  283 

CHAPTER  IV. 

APRIL    FOOLS. 

TIP'S  constitutionals  were  taken  with  j  raise  worthy 
regularity  about  that  time,  and  the  poor  asthmatic  ani 
mal  was  nearly  walked  off  his  legs  by  the  vigor  with 
which  his  little  mistress  paraded  the  park  at  unfashion 
able  hours.  A  robust  young  man,  who  did  not  look 
is  if  he  needed  early  walks,  was  continually  meeting 
Dolly  by  accident  as  it  were,  till  on  the  fourth  ren 
contre  they  both  burst  out  laughing,  gave  up  all  fur 
ther  subterfuge,  and  felt  that  it  was  vain  to  struggle 
against  fate.  The  next  time  they  met,  both  looked 
very  sober ;  and  John  said,  watching  her  face  as  he 
spoke,  — 

"  It  is  all  over  with  me,  Miss  Dolly.  The  old  man  is 
dead,  and  my  chance  is  lost  for  ever." 

"  You  look  so  solemn,  I'm  afraid  he  left  you  some 
thing,  after  all." 

"  Not  a  penny.  All  went  to  various  charities,  and  I 
have  nothing  but  my  salary  and  these  two  hands." 

"I'm  glad  of  that!  I'd  like  to  shake  those  honest 
hands,  and  wish  them  all  success.  May  I  ?  "  she  said, 
putting  out  her  own  with  such  cordial  approval  in 
voice  and  eyes  that  John  lost  his  head,  and,  holding 
both  the  small  hands  fast  in  his,  answered  all  in  one 
fervently  incoherent  burst,  — 

"May  you?  Let  me  keep  them,  and  then  I  shall 
succeed!  Dearest  Dolly,  you  s?iid  you  didn't  want 


284  INDEPENDENCE. 

any  thing  but  love ;  and  here's  a  whole  heart  full,  ach 
ing  to  be  poured  out.  You  said  you'd  like  to  see  Jack 
and  his  wife  working  their  way  up  together,  contented 
to  be  poor.  Here's  Jack  and  the  wife  he  wants,  if  she 
cares  enough  for  him  to  try  that  beautiful  experiment. 
You  said  you  hadn't  any  home  to  run  to  when  those 
cruel  women  called  you  a  burden.  Run  to  me,  my 
.darling,  and  be  the  pride  and  joy  and  comfort  of  my 
life  !  " 

No  one  saw  what  Dolly  did  but  Tip,  who  sat  lolling 
out  his  tongue  in  an  imbecile  manner;  and  no  one 
heard  what  she  said  but  some  bright-faced  crocuses 
blooming  early  in  that  lonely  corner  of  the  park.  But 
from  what  took  place  afterward,  it  was  evident  that 
her  reply  had  not  been  entirely  unpropitious ;  for  her 
Land  lay  on  John's  arm,  her  face  was  in  an  April  state 
between  smiles  and  tears,  and  to  her  eyes  midsummer 
warmth  and  radiance  seemed  to  have  fallen  suddenly 
upon  the  earth.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  mention 
that  the  other  party  in  this  little  transaction  looked 
as  if  he  owned  the  entire  world,  was  yearning  to  em 
brace  all  mankind,  and  had  nothing  more  to  ask  of 
Heaven  in  the  way  of  happiness. 

"  You  don't  regret  saying  yes,  like  an  angel,"  asked 
this  unreasonable  lover,  five  minutes  after  he  had  sur 
prised  her  into  uttering  that  momentous  monosyllable. 

"Not  yet." 

"  You  know  that  it  is  very  selfish  of  me  to  ask  you, 
when  I've  nothing  to  give  ;  and  very  unwise  in  you  to 
take  me,  because  you  have  much  to  lose." 

"Why,  what?" 

"  The  devoted  Parker  and  his  plump  pocket-book." 


APRIL  FOOLS.  28o 

It;  was  good  to  hear  Dolly  laugh  at  that,  and  to  see 
John  glance  defiantly  at  an  elderly  gentleman  in  the 
distance,  as  if  all  that  harmless  portion  of  the  race  ought 
to  be  exterminated,  to  leave  room  for  happy  young  fel 
lows  like  himself. 

"  He  will  believe  now  that,  when  I  say  '  No,'  I  mean 
it,"  answered  Dolly,  with  an  assumption  of  dignity, 
which  changed  with  comic  suddenness  to  one  of  dis 
may,  as  she  added,  "Oh,  my  heart,  what  will  Aunt 
Maria  say ! " 

"Don't  tell  her  just  yet,  or  she  will  shut  you  up, 
whisk  you  away,  or  do  some  awful  thing  to  part  us. 
Keep  this  delicious  secret  for  a  little  while,  and  we  can 
enjoy  many  happy  minutes  in  peace." 

"Yes,  John,"  with  a  docility  that  was  altogether 
captivating  to  the  new  commander-in-chief. 

"  I  must  look  about  me,  and  be  getting  ready  to  take 
you  into  my  home  as  well  as  my  heart,  when  the  storm 
breaks.  There  is  sure  to  be  one,  I  fancy ;  and,  for  my 
part,  I  rather  relish  the  idea.  The  air  will  be  clearer 
and  things  more  settled  after  it." 

"  I  don't  know  what  they  will  say  and  do  to  me,  but 
I  shall  not  mind,  now  I  have  you  to  take  care  of  me ;" 
and  Dolly's  other  hand  went  to  joiri  the  one  on  John's 
arm,  with  a  confiding  gesture  which  glorified  the  old 
coat-sleeve,  in  his  eyes,  more  than  any  badge  it  could 
have  worn. 

"  I  suppose  we  must  live  somewhere,  and  eat  occa 
sionally,  since  we  are  mortal.  Love  certainly  is  the 
best  capital  to  start  on,  but  a  trifle  of  cash  is  necessary 
likewise;  so  we  must  take  a  little  thought  for  the 
morrow.  Wish  the  city  would  provide  us  with  a 


286  INDEPENDENCE. 

house  rent  free,  and  board  thrown  in,  as  it  does  our 
feathery  confidants  here,"  observed  the  husband  elect, 
eying  the  sparrows  with  a  vague  sense  of  domestic 
cares  already  stealing  over  his  masculine  mind. 

"  Don't  think  of  all  those  worries  yet.  Just  love  and 
be  happy  for  a  time,  and  things  will  settle  themselves 
somehow,"  cried  Dolly,  whose  womanly  nature  would 
riot  be  so  soon  defrauded  of  the  sweet  romance  which 
comes  but  once  in  a  lifetime. 

"  Very  well.  We'll  give  a  month  to  clear  bliss,  and 
then  talk  about  the  honeymoon." 

But,  with  the  charming  inconsistency  of  her  sex,  no 
sooner  had  she  forbidden  a  subject  than  she  felt  an  in 
tense  desire  to  talk  about  it ;  and  after  a  moment's  pause, 
during  which  her  lover  had  been  looking  down  at  her 
thoughtful  face  in  silent  rapture,  Dolly  emerged  from  a 
brief  reverie,  clapping  her  hands  and  exclaiming, — 

"John,  I've  got  the  most  delicious  idea  that  ever 
was.  Now  don't  laugh  and  say,  ;  It  isn't  practical,'  for 
I  know  it  is ;  and  it  would  be  so  new  and  appropriate 
and  economical,  and  altogether  nice,  that  I  hope  you'll 
approve.  We  shall  want  a  home  by  and  by,  shall  we 
not?" 

"I  want  it  now,  if  you've  no  objection." 

"  Be  serious.  Well,  a  room  or  two  must  content  us 
at  first,  and  we  want  them  to  be  decent,  not  to  say 
pi  etty  and  comfortable,  don't  we  ?  " 

"  They  can't  help  being  all  three,  if  you  are  there, 
my  Dolly." 

"  No,  John,  not  in  public !  Now  answer  me  this : 
won't  you  have  to  save  up  a  long  time,  to  get  enough 
to  buy  furniture  and  things,  no  matter  how  simple  ? " 


APRIL  FOOLS.  287 

"  I'm  afraid  I  should ;  for  at  present  my  housekeep 
ing  stock  is  about  as  large  and  varied  as  that  of 
Tommy  Traddles.  His  consisted  of  a  bird-cage  and 
a  toasting-fork,  I  believe;  mine,  of  an  easel  and  a 
boot-jack.  Wouldn't  they  do  to  begin  with  ?  " 

"  Please  don't  joke,  but  listen ;  for  this  is  the  new 
idea.  Take  my  dear  old  relics  and  furnish  our  nest 
with  them !  What  could  be  more  economical,  pictu 
resque,  and  appropriate  for  this  centennial  year  ?  " 

Dolly  stopped  short  to  see  how  this  amazing  proposal 
struck  her  lord  and  master.  It  seemed  to  take  him  ofl 
his  legs ;  for  he  sat  suddenly  down  upon  a  seat  that 
fortunately  was  behind  him,  and  looked  up  at  the 
beaming  little  woman  with  an  expression  of  admiration 
and  contentment,  which  answered  her  question  so 
emphatically  that  she  nestled  down  beside  him  with 
all  her  doubts  laid  at  rest. 

"  I  thought  you'd  like  it !  Now  let's  plan  it  all  out, 
and  see  what  we've  got.  Every  thing  is  as  old  as  the 
hills,  you  know ;  but  still  so  good  and  strong  we  can 
get  years  of  wear  out  of  it.  We  don't  have  such  well- 
made  furniture  nowadays,"  she  went  on,  happily 
blind  to  the  deficiencies  of  the  time-worn  chairs, 
clumsy  tables,  and  cracked  china,  which  were  all  her 
store. 

"  My  blessing  on  every  stick  of  it !  I  wasn't  think 
ing  about  the  furniture,  though.  I  was  rejoicing  over 
the  fact  that,  if  I  needn't  save  up  for  that  sort  of 
thing,  we  could  be  married  all  the  sooner.  That's  the 
beauty  of  the  idea,  don't  you  see  ?  "  and  John  regarded 
the  originator  thereof  with  unmitigated  satisfaction. 

"  So  we    can ;    but   do   think   about   the   furniture. 


288  INDEPENDENCE. 

because  you  ought  to  be  interested  in  helping  me  make 
an  artistic  home,"  said  Dolly,  knowing  that  the  word 
"  artistic  "  would  arrest  his  attention,  and  keep  him  to 
the  subject  in  hand ;  for  as  yet  the  other  idea  was  too 
new  to  bear  much  discussion. 

"I  will.  In  fact,  I  see  it  now,  all  complete.  Two  or 
three  rooms  in  an  old  house,  if  possible, —  they  are  always 
the  cheapest,  my  love ;  so  don't  look  as  if  you  saw 
cobwebs  and  blue  mould,  and  felt  black  beetles  run 
ning  over  your  feet.  In  one  room  we'll  have  that 
spider-legged  table  on  which  you  cleaned  the  snuffer 
tray,  and  the  claw-footed  chairs :  there  were  three,  I 
think,  —  one  for  each  of  us,  and  the  third  for  a  friend. 
Then  on  the  dresser  we'll  put  all  the  porringers  out  of 
which  we  are  to  eat  mush  and  milk,  and  the  pewter 
platters  for  an  occasional  '  biled  dish,'  —  that's  the 
proper  name  for  the  mess,  isn't  it  ?  Likewise  the  dear 
fat  tea-pots,  the  red  china  cups,  all  cracked,  the  green- 
handled  knives  and  forks,  the  wooden  spoons,  funny 
pepper-pots,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  droll  rattletraps." 

"  Don't  forget  the  tankard,"  cried  Dolly,  as  John 
paused  for  breath  in  the  middle  of  his  rhapsody. 

"  That  will  be  in  our  parlor,  set  forth  in  state  on  the 
tittle  stand  I  used  to  have  my  lunch  at  during  the  fair. 
Pm  afraid  I  scratched  your  initials  all  over  it,  that 
being  a  trick  of  mine  about  that  time." 

"  I  thought  you  did  it !  Never  mind,  but  go  on, 
please." 

"  We  shall  put  flowers  in  the  immortal  mug,  and  I  shall 
paint  them,  earn  sums,  and  grow  famous,  such  will  be 
the  inspiration  of  my  surroundings.  For,  while  I  sit  in 
the  General's  chair  at  my  delightful  work,  you  in  the 


APRIL   FOOLS.  289 

pretty  chintz  gown  and  the  fly-away  cap,  —  promise 
me  to  wear  it,  or  I  won't  go  on  ?  " 

"  I'll  wear  any  thing  you  like,  in  the  house,  and  can 
h-ive  a  water-proof  and  a  linen  duster  for  the  street. 
Artists'  wives  usually  do  have  to  make  guys  of  them 
selves,  I  believe." 

"Thank  you,  dear.  Well,  you  will  always  be  doing 
one  of  three  things,  making  sweethearts,  spinning,  or 
looking  over  my  shoulder.  I  prefer  the  latter  occupation 
on  the  whole,  and  when  I'm  at  home  that  will  be  your 
mission.  During  my  absence,  you  can  attend  to  the 
housework  you  love  so  well,  and  do  so  prettily.  Never 
did  I  see  such  brilliant  candlesticks  in  my  life  ;  and  as 
for  the  copper  tea-kettle,  it  was  like  a  mirror.  I  saw 
you  steal  peeps  at  it  more  than  once,  Little  Vanity, 
that  day  as  I  sat  stealing  a  sketch  of  you." 

"  Then  you  think  it  can  be  done,  John  ?  "  ignoring 
the  accusation. 

"  It  not  only  caw,  but  it  shall  be  done,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  we  set  the  fashion  of  furnishing  bridal  bowers 
with  relics  of  all  sorts,  throwing  in  a  glue-pot  gratis,  to 
mend  up  the  old  things  when  they  tumble  to  pieces. 
I'm  great  at  that,  and  can  get  my  living  as  a  cabinet 
maker  when  art  fails." 

"  I  do  believe  you  can  do  every  thing,  John  ! " 

"No,  I  couldn't  cure  pneumonia,  if  you  should  get  it 
by  sitting  in  this  chilly  wind.  Now  I've  got  you,  I 
intend  to  take  great  care  of  you,  my  little  treasure." 

It  was  so  sweet  to  Dolly  to  be  cared  for,  and  so 
delightful  to  John  to  do  it,  that  they  forgot  all  about 
poor  Tip  till  he  tumbled  into  the  pond,  and  was  with 
difficulty  fished  out  by  his  ears  and  tail,  being  too  fat 

19 


290  INDEPENDENCE. 

to  do  any  thing  but  float.  This  catastrophe  shortened 
an  interview  which  might  otherwise  have  been  pro 
longed  till  nightfall,  for 

"  Lightly  falls  the  foot  of  time 
That  only  treads  on  flowers." 

"  Why,  John,  do  you  know  that  this  is  the  first  of 
April  ?  "  asked  Dolly,  as  they  went  homeward,  with 
Tip  forlornly  dripping  in  the  rear.  "  A  very  fitting 
day  for  such  an  imprudent  couple  as  we  are  to  begin 
their  journey,"  she  added,  enjoying  the  idea  immensely. 

"  So  it  is  !  Never  mind  !  we'll  prove  that  we  are  no 
fools,  though  a  mercenary  world  may  call  us  so,"  re 
turned  John,  as  blithe  as  she. 

Alas,  poor  things !  they  thought  their  troubles  were 
all  over,  now  they  had' found  each  other;  whereas  a 
cruel  fate  was  laughing  at  them  round  the  corner. 


CHAPTER  V. 
THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

UNFORTUNATELY  for  these  deluded  young  persons, 
their  month  of  bliss  turned  out  to  be  the  most  tem 
pestuous  one  they  had  ever  passed ;  for,  before  the  first 
week  was  over,  some  malignant  imp  inspired  Aunt 
Maria  to  spy,  from  a  certain  end  window  which  com 
manded  a  corner  of  the  park,  the  lingering  adieux  of 
the  lovers,  and  then  it  was  all  up  with  them. 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.        291 

A  single  stormy  debate,  during  which  John  manfully 
claimed  his  Dolly,  she  stoutly  defended  her  right  to 
love  whom  she  chose,  and  Aunt  Maria  thundered 
and  lightened  unavailingly,  resulted  in  the  banishment 
of  the  claimant,  the  strict  seclusion  of  the  damsel,  and 
the  redoubled  devotion  of  the  decorous  but  determined 
Parker,  who,  cheered  on  by  his  ally,  still  besieged  the 
rebellious  heart,  undaunted  by  the  reinforcements  lately 
received. 

The  prospect  was  certainly  not  a  hopeful  one ;  but 
the  young  people  never  lost  courage,  rather  enjoyed 
it  on  the  whole,  and  revolved  endless  schemes  in  their 
busy  brains,  which  they  confided  to  one  another  by 
means  of  notes  slipped  under  Tip's  collar  when  he  took 
his  solitary  airings  on  the  steps.  For  a  time  persecution 
lent  its  zest  to  their  love ;  but  presently  separation  grew 
unbearable,  and  they  were  ready  for  revolt. 

"  I  must  see  you,"  wrote  John,  in  note  number  37. 

"  You  shall"  answered  Dolly,  and  bade  him  meet 
her  at  one  of  the  many  Centennial  Balls  which  afflicted 
the  world  in  1875-76. 

To  hear  was  to  obey ;  and  though  said  ball  was  to  be 
eminently  select,  thanks  to  a  skilful  use  of  his  middle 
name,  John  was  able  to  keep  the  appointed  tryst,  well 
knowing  that  there  is  no  solitude  like  that  to  be  found 
in  a  crowd.  Costumes  were  in  order ;  and  there  was  a 
general  resurrection  of  ancient  finery,  which  made  the 
handsome  hall  look  as  if  time  had  rolled  back  a  hundred 
years.  Every  one  who  had  a  hair  powdered  it,  and 
those  who  had  not  made  up  the  deficiency  by  imposing 
wigs.  Spindle-legged  gentlemen  affected  top-boots 
and  spurs ;  those  blessed  with  a  manly  development 


292  INDEPENDENCE 

of  calf  pranced  in  silk  stockings  and  buckled  shoes. 
British  and  Continental  uniforms  amicably  marched 
shoulder  to  shoulder;  dimity  and  brocade  mingled 
prettily  together ;  and  patriotic  ardor  animated  the 
hearts  under  the  lace  stomachers  and  embroidered 
waistcoats  as  warmly  as  of  old,  for  the  spirit  of  70 
was  all  alive  again. 

Aunt  Maria  looked  like  a  parrot  of  the  most  brilliant 
plumage ;  for  the  good  lady  burned  to  distinguish  her 
self,  and  had  vainly  tried  to  wear  a  suit  of  Madam 
Hancock's  belonging  to  Dolly.  Fortunately,  Madam 
was  a  small  woman,  and  Aunt  Maria  quite  the  reverse ; 
so  she  was  forced  to  give  it  up,  and  content  herself 
with  being  one  of  many  Martha  Washingtons  who 
filled  the  dowagers'  corner. 

So  Dolly  bloomed  into  the  sweetest  little  old-time 
lady  ever  seen,  and  was  in  truth  by  nature  as  by  name 
a  Dorothy  Quincy.  Not  as  the  matron,  but  as  the 
maid,  with  all  her  curly  locks  turned  over  a  roller 
before  they  fell  on  her  white  neck,  where  shone  the 
jewelled  hearts  she  prized  so  much.  Lilies  of  the  val 
ley  embroidered  her  white  gown,  and  nestled  among  the 
lace  that  rose  and  fell  upon  her  bosom.  From  under 
her  quilted  satin  petticoat  "  her  little  feet  stole  in  and 
out,"  wearing  Madam's  wedding-shoes,  so  high  in  the 
heels  and  so  pointed  at  the  toes  that  Dolly  suffered 
martyrdom  with  a  smiling  face,  and  danced  at  the  risk 
of  her  life.  Long  gloves,  with  Lafayette's  likeness 
stamped  on  the  back,  kept  splitting  at  the  time-worn 
seams,  so  plump  were  the  arms  inside.  A  quaint  scent- 
bottle  hung  at  her  waist ;  and  she  hid  her  blushes  behind 
a  great  fan,  whose  dim  mirror  had  reflected  faces  history 
has  made  immortal. 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.       293 

"You  are  simply  perfect,  Miss  Hill,  and  nothing 
could  be  added,"  whispered  the  still  hopeful  Parker, 
who  was  on  duty  and  much  elated  by  the  fact ;  for  the 
girl  was  unusually  friendly  that  evening  for  reasons  of 
her  own. 

"  Except  the  Governor,"  she  answered,  peeping  over 
her  fan  with  eyes  full  of  anxiety  as  well  as  merriment; 
for  John  had  not  yet  appeared,  and  the  little  man 
beside  her  was  very  funny  in  a  voluminous  white  neck 
cloth,  furred  coat-collar,  and  square-toed  shoes,  care 
fully  kept  in  the  "  first  position."  He  had  longed  to 
personate  the  character  she  suggested.  Stature  forbade, 
however;  and  he  had  contented  himself  with  person 
ating  Benjamin  Franklin,  flattering  himself  that  his 
placid  countenance  and  neat  legs  would  be  remarkably 
effective,  also  the  fact  that  he  had  been  connected 
with  the  printing  interest  in  early  life. 

"  If  you  had  only  told  me,  I  would  have  attempted 
it  for  your  sake  :  you  have  but  to  express  a  wish,  and 
I  am  charmed  to  gratify  it,"  murmured  the  enamoured 
Benjamin,  with  a  tenderly  reproachful  sigh,  which 
stirred  his  rampant  shirt-frill  like  a  passing  breeze. 

At  that  moment,  as  if  a  wish  had  brought  him, 
a  veritable  John  Hancock  stood  before  them,  looking 
comelier  than  ever,  in  a  velvet  suit,  as  he  laid  hia 
cocked  hat  upon  his  heart  and  asked,  with  a  bow  so 
deep  that  it  afforded  a  fine  view  of  the  garnet  buckle 
in  his  stock,  — 

"  May  I  have  the  honor,  Madam  ?  " 

Glad  to  hide  a  traitorously  happy  face,  Dolly  made 
him  a  splendid  curtsey,  and  took  his  arm  with  a 
hasty  — 


'21)4  INDEPENDENCE. 

"  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Parker.  Please  tell  Aunt  I'm 
going  to  dance." 

"But  —  but  —  but  —  my  dear  Miss,  I  promised  not 
to  lose  sight  of  you,"  stammered  the  defrauded  Frank 
lin,  turning  red  with  helpless  rage,  as  the  full  audacity 
of  the  lovers  burst  upon  him. 

"  Well,  you  needn't.  Wai"  for  me  here  till  my  dance 
is  over,  then  Aunt  won't  know  any  thing  about  it," 
laughed  wilful  Dolly  over  her  shoulder,  as  she  was  swept 
away  into  the  many-colored  whirlpool  that  circled 
round  the  hall  to  the  entrancing  music  of  a  waltz. 

While  it  lasted,  words  were  needless ;  for  eyes  did  the 
talking,  smiles  proud  or  tender  telegraphed  volumes  of 
poetry,  the  big  hand  held  the  little  one  so  close  that 
*'t  burst  quite  out  of  the  old  glove  rosy  with  the  press- 
are,  and  the  tall  head  was  often  so  near  the  short  one 
that  the  light  locks  powdered  the  darkxones. 

"  A  heavenly  waltz ! "  panted  Dolly,  when  it  ended, 
feeling  that  she  could  go  on  for  ever,  blind  to  the  droll 
despair  of  poor  Parker,  as,  heroically  faithful  to  his 
trust,  he  struggled  frantically  to  keep  the  happy  pair 
in  sight. 

"  Now  we'll  have  a  still  more  heavenly  promenade 
in  the  corridor.  Ben  is  busy  apologizing  to  half  a  dozen 
ladies  whose  trains  he  has  walked  up  in  his  mad  career 
after  us,  so  we  are  safe  for  a  time,"  answered  John, 
ready  to  brave  the  wrath  of  many  Aunt  Marias ;  for 
the  revolutionary  spirit  was  high  within  him,  and  he 
had  quite  made  up  his  mind  that  resistance  to  tyrants 
was  obedience  to  the  little  god  he  served  just  then. 

"  Oh,  John,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  after  all  this 
worry,  and  how  nice  it  was  of  you  to  come  in  such 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.       Wb 

grand  style  to-night!  I  was  so  afraid  you  couldn't 
manage  it,"  said  Dolly,  hanging  on  his  arm  and  survey 
ing  her  gallant  Governor  with  pardonable  pride. 

"My  blessed  girl,  there  was  nothing  I  couldn't  man 
age  with  the  prospect  of  meeting  you  before  me. 
Hasn't  it  been  hard  times  for  both  of  us  ?  You've  had 
the  hardest,  I'm  afraid,  shut  up  with  the  dragon  and 
no  refuge  from  daily  nagging  and  Parker's  persecution. 
If  you  hadn't  the  bravest  little  heart  in  the  world,  you'd 
have  given  up  by  this;"  and,  taking  advantage  of  a 
shadowy  corner,  John  embraced  his  idol,  under  pretence 
of  drawing  her  cloak  about  her. 

"  I'll  never  give  up  the  ship ! "  cried  the  girl,  quoting 
Lawrence  of  the  "  Chesapeake,"  with  a  flash  of  the  eye 
good  to  see. 

"  Stand  to  your  guns,  and  we'll  yet  say,  « We've  met 
the  enemy,  and  they  are  ours,'"  answered  John,  in  the 
words  of  brave  Perry,  and  with  a  ring  to  his  voice 
which  caused  a  passing  waiter  to  pause,  fancying  he 
was  called. 

Beckoning  to  him,  John  gave  Dolly  a  glass  of  lemon 
ade,  and,  taking  one  himself,  said  with  a  look  that 
made  the  toast  a  very  eloquent  one  to  both  of  them,  — 

"The  love  of  liberty  —  and  —  the  liberty  of  love." 

They  drank  it  silently,  then  paced  on  again,  so  intent 
upon  their  own  emotions  that  neither  saw  a  flushed  and 
agitated  countenance  regard  them  from  a  doorway,  and 
then  vanish,  smiling  darkly. 

"  Governor ! " 

"Dearest  Madam!" 

"  Things  have  come  to  a  crisis,  and  I've  taken  a  reso 
lution,"  began  Dolly,  remembering  that  time  was  short 


2W  INDEPENDENCE. 

"  So  have  I." 

"  Tliis  is  mine,  —  I'm  going  to  Philadelphia." 

"No!" 

"Yes." 

"How?  when?  why?" 

"  Be  calm  and  listen.  Aunt  has  given  me  just 
days  to  choose  between  accepting  P.  and  being  sent 
home  in  disgrace.  I  don't  intend  to  do  either,  but 
take  matters  into  my  own  hands,  and  cease  to  be  a 
burden." 

"  Hear  !  hear !  but  how  ?  " 

u  At  the  fair  the  kitchen  was  a  success,  and  there  is 
to  be  a  grand  one  at  the  Exposition.  Girls  are  wanted 
to  wait  there  as  here ;  they  are  taken  care  of,  and  all 
expenses  paid  while  they  serve.  I  know  some  nice 
people  who  are  going  for  fun,  and  I'm  to  join  them  for 
a  month  at  least.  That  gives  me  a  start,  and  after 
ward  I  certainly  can  find  something  to  do  in  the  city 
of  Brotherly  Love." 

"  The  knowledge  that  1m  to  be  there  on  duty  ha-  i 
nothing  to  do  with  this  fine  plan  of  yours,  hey,  my 
Dolly?"  and  John  beamed  at  her  with  such  a  raptur- 
ous  expression  she  had  to  turn  him  round,  lest  in 
advancing  couple  should  fancy  he  had  been  imbibing 
bomething  stronger  than  lemonade  and  love. 

"  Why,  of  course  it  had,"  she  answered  with  ador 
able  candor.  "  Don't  you  see  how  lovely  it  will  be  to 
meet  every  day  and  talk  over  our  prospects  in  peace, 
while  we  are  working  away  together  till  we  have 
earned  enough  to  try  the  experiment  we  planned  in 
the  park?" 

Stopping  short,  John  grasped  the  hand  that  lay  on 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.       297 

his  arm,  looking  as  if  suddenly  inspired,  and  exclaimed 
in  a  solemn  yet  excited  tone,  — 

"  Tve  got  a  plan,  a  superb  plan,  only  it  may  startle 
you  a  bit  at  first.  Why  not  marry  and  go  together?" 

Before  Dolly  could  find  breath  to  answer  this  mo 
mentous  question,  a  bomb-shell,  in  the  shape  of  Aum 
Maria,  exploded  before  them,  and  put  an  end  to  the 
privy  conspiracy  and  rebellion. 

"You  will  not  go  anywhere  together,  for  rny  niece 
ib  in  the  care  of  this  gentleman.  I  did  think  we  should 
be  free  from  annoyance  here,  but  I  see  I  was  mistaken. 
Mr.  Parker,  will  you  oblige  me  by  taking  Dolly  home 
at  once?" 

Every  feather  in  the  old  lady's  gray  wig  trembled 
with  ire,  as  she  plucked  the  girl  from  one  lover  and 
gave  her  to  the  charge  of  the  other,  in  whom  the  con- 
m'cting  emotions  of  triumph  and  trepidation  were  so 
visible  that  the  contrast  between  his  countenance  and 
costume  was  more  comical  than  ever. 

"But,  Aunt,  it  isn't  time  to  go  yet,"  protested  Dolly, 
finding  submission  very  hard  after  her  taste  of  freedom. 

"  It  is  quite  time  for  persons  who  don't  know  how  to 
behave  with  propriety  in  public.  Not  a  word !  Take 
my  wrap,  and  go  at  once.  Mr.  Parker,  please  leave 
her  in  Mrs.  Cobb's  care,  and  return  to  enjoy  yourself. 
There  is  no  reason  why  your  evening  should  be 
spoilt;"  and  Aunt  Maria  bundled  poor  Dolly  into  an 
ugly  shawl,  which  made  her  look  like  a  lovely  tea-rose 
done  up  in  brown  paper. 

This  sudden  fall  from  the  height  of  happiness  to  the 
depths  of  helpless  indignation  left  John  speechless  for 
an  instant,  during  which  he  with  difficulty  resisted  a 


298  INDEPENDENCE. 

strong  desire  to  shake  Aunt  Maria,  and  spit  Benjamin 
Franklin  on  the  sword  that  hung  at  his  side.  The 
sight  of  his  Dolly  reft  from  him,  and  ruthlessly  led 
away  from  the  gayety  she  loved,  reminded  him  that 
discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor,  and  for  her 
sake  he  tried  to  soften  the  dragon  by  taking  all  the 
blame  upon  himself,  and  promising  to  go  away  at  once. 
But,  while  he  was  expostulating,  the  wary  Parker 
carried  off  the  prize ;  and,  when  John  turned  to  say 
good-night,  she  had  vanished,  and  Aunt  Maria  stalked 
away,  with  a  grim  laugh  at  his  defeat. 

That  laugh  made  him  desperate ;  and,  rushing  down 
stairs,  he  was  about  to  walk  away  in  the  rain,  regard 
less  of  the  damage  to  his  costly  suit,  when  the  sound 
of  a  voice  checked  his  reckless  flight,  and,  looking  back, 
he  saw  Dolly  pausing  on  the  stairs  to  say,  with  a 
glance  from  the  ancestral  shoes  to  the  wet  pavement 
outside,  "  I  don't  mind  wetting  my  feet,  but  I  cannot 
spoil  these  precious  slippers.  Please  get  my  overshoes 
from  the  dressing-room  :  I'll  wait  for  you  here." 

"  Certainly,  certainly ;  and  my  coat  also :  we  must 
be  prudent  after  such  heat  and  excitement,"  replied 
Mr.  Parker,  glad  to  guard  himself  against  the  rheuma 
tism  twinges  which  already  began  to  afflict  his  lightly 
5! ad  extremities. 

As  he  hurried  back,  a  voice  whispered,  "  Dolly ! n 
and,  regardless  of  the  perilously  high  heels,  she  ran 
down  to  join  a  black  velvet  gentleman  below,  who 
said  in  her  ear,  as  he  led  her  toward  the  door, — 

"  I  must  have  a  word  more.  Let  me  take  you  home ; 
any  carriage  will  do,  and  it's  our  last  chance." 

"  Yes,  John,  yes ;   but  oh,  my  shoes ! "   and  for  one 


DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.       299 

instant  Dolly  lingered,  as  reverence  for  her  relics  con 
tended  with  love  for  her  Governor. 

But  he  was  equal  to  the  occasion,  and,  having  no 
cloak  to  lay  under  his  queen's  feet,  just  took  her  in  his 
arms,  and  before  she  knew  it  both  were  in  the  coach, 
an  order  given,  and  they  were  off. 

"  Oh,  John,  how  could  you  ?  "  was  all  she  said,  cast- 
ing  away  the  big  shawl,  to  put  both  hands  on  tho 
powdery  shoulders  before  her;  for  her  escort  was  on 
his  knees,  quite  in  the  style  of  the  days  when  Sir 
Charles  Willoughby  carried  Evelina  off  in  his  chariot. 

How  he  did  it  John  never  knew;  but  there  he 
was,  as  unconscious  of  his  long  limbs  as  if  he  had  been 
a  cherub,  so  intent  was  he  on  improving  this  precious 
moment. 

"  I'd  like  to  do  a  great  deal  more  than  that,  but  not 
to-night,  though  I'm  sorely  tempted  to  run  away  with 
you,  Dolly,"  he  answered,  feeling  as  if  it  would  be 
impossible  to  relinquish  the  little  bundle  of  silk  and 
swan's  down  his  arm  enclosed. 

"  Oh,  John,  please  don't !  How  could  I  in  this  dress, 
and  no  place  to  go  to,  or  any  thing?  " 

"  Don't  be  frightened,  dear :  I  won't  be  rash.  But, 
seriously,  it  must  come  to  that,  and  the  sooner  the 
better ;  so  make  up  your  mind  to  it,  and  I'll  manage  all 
the  rest.  This  is  my  plan,  and  yours  will  make  it  all 
the  easier.  We  will  go  to  Philadelphia ;  but  we'll  be 
married  first,  and  that  shall  be  our  wedding  journey." 

"  But  I'm  not  ready ;  we  haven't  any  money ;  and 
only  three  days  !  I  couldn't,  John,  I  couldn't ! "  and 
Dolly  hid  her  face,  glad,  yet  half-frightened,  at  this 
prospe  )t  of  such  a  release  from  all  her  woes. 


300  INDEPENDENCE. 

"I  knew  it  would  startle  you  at  first;  but  getting 
married  is  the  easiest  thing  in  life  when  you  set  about 
it.  You  don't  want  any  wedding  finery,  I've  got 
money  enough,  and  can  borrow  more  if  I  need  it ;  and 
three  days  is  plenty  of  time  to  pack  your  trunk,  have 
a  farewell  fight  with  Aunt  Maria,  and  run  away  to  be 
the  happiest  little  wife  that  ever  was.  Say  yes,  dar 
ling  ;  trust  every  thing  to  me,  and,  please  God,  you 
never  shall  regret  it." 

Dolly  had  doubted  the  existence  of  genuine  love 
nowadays,  and  John  had  assured  her  that  there  were 
oceans  of  it.  There  certainly  seemed  to  be  that  night; 
and  it  was  impossible  to  doubt  the  truth  of  his  asser 
tion  while  listening  to  the  tender  prayers  and  plans 
and  protestations  he  poured  into  her  ear,  as  they  rolled 
on,  regardless  of  the  avenging  furies  behind,  and  the 
untried  fate  before  them.  Storms  raged  without,  but 
peace  reigned  within ;  for  Dolly  showed  signs  of  yield 
ing,  though  she  had  not  consented  when  the  run-away 
ride  ended. 

As  John  set  her  doAvn  in  the  hall,  he  added  as  a  last 
appeal,  — 

"  Remember,  there  were  '  Daughters  of  Liberty,'  as 
well  as  sons,  in  the  old  times  you  love  so  well.  Be 
one,  and  prove  yourself  worthy  of  your  name,  as  you 
bid  me  be  of  mine.  Come,  sweetheart,  resist  tyranny, 
face  poverty,  love  liberty,  and  declare  your  independ 
ence  as  bravely  as  they  did." 

"I  will!"  and  Dolly  signed  the  declaration  her 
Hancock  headed,  by  giving  him  her  hand  and  sealing 
the  oath  with  a  kiss. 

"One  word  more,"  he  said  hurriedly,  as  the  clatter 


PEACE  IS  DECLARED.  301 

of  an  approaching  carriage  sounded  through  the  street : 
"  I  may  not  be  able  to  see  you  again,  but  we  can  each 
be  getting  ready,  and  meet  on  Monday  morning,  when 
you  leave  for  'home'  in  good  truth.  Put  a  lamp  in 
the  end  window  the  last  thing  Sunday  night  as  the 
bells  ring  nine,  then  I  shall  be  sure  that  all  is  right* 
tuid  have  no  delay  in  the  morning." 

"Yes,  John." 

"  Good-night,  and  God  bless  you !  " 

There  was  no  time  for  more ;  and  as  distracted 
Parker  burst  out  of  one  carriage,  and  Aunt  Maria 
"came  tumbling  after,"  happy  John  Harris  stepped 
into  the  other,  \rith  a  wave  of  the  cocked  hat,  and 
drove  away  in  triumph. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

PEACE  IS  DECLARED. 

THE  age  of  miracles  is  not  over  yet,  and  our  young 
people  wrought  several  during  those  three  days ;  for  in 
love's  vocabulary  there  is  no  such  word  as  fail. 

Dolly  "  stood  to  her  guns "  womanfully,  and  not 
only  chose  to  go  "  home,"  but  prepared  for  her  banish 
ment  with  an  outward  meekness  and  an  inward  joy 
which  made  each  hour  memorable.  Aunt  Maria  had 
her  suspicions  and  kept  a  vigilant  watch,  she  and  her 
maid  Cobb  mounting  guard  by  turns.  Parker,  finding 
that  "no  surrender"  was  the  countersign,  raised  the 
siege  and  retreated  in  good  order,  though  a  trifle  de- 


302  INDEPENDENCE. 

moralized  in  dignity  when  he  looked  back  during  tne 
evacuation  and  saw  Tip  bolt  upright  in  the  end  window, 
with  the  rebel  flag  proudly  displayed. 

John  meanwhile  was  circulating  briskly  through 
the  city,  and  showing  such  ardent  interest  in  the  ap 
proaching  Exposition  that  his  mates  christened  him 
84  Centennial  Harris ; "  while  the  higher  powers  felt 
that  they  had  done  a  good  thing  in  giving  him  the  job, 
and  increased  his  salary  to  make  sure  of  so  excellent  a 
servant.  Other  arrangements  of  a  private  but  infinitely 
more  interesting  nature  were  successfully  made ;  and  he 
went  about  smiling  to  himself,  as  if  the  little  parce? 
done  up  in  silver  paper,  which  he  was  constantly  feeling 
for  in  his  vest  pocket,  had  been  a  talisman  conferring 
all  good  gifts  upon  its  happy  owner. 

When  the  third  night  came,  he  was  at  his  post  long 
before  the  time,  so  great  was  his  impatience;  for  the 
four-footed  traitor  had  been  discovered  and  ordered 
into  close  confinement,  where  he  suffered,  not  the  fate 
of  Andre,  but  the  pangs  of  indigestion  for  lack  of  ex 
ercise  after  the  feast  of  tidbits  surreptitiously  adminis 
tered  by  one  who  never  forgot  all  she  owed  to  her  "  fat 
friend." 

It  seemed  as  if  nine  o'clock  would  never  come; 
and,  if  a  policeman  ever  was  where  he  should  be,  the 
guardian  of  that  beat  would  have  considered  John  a 
suspicious  character  as  he  paced  to  and  fro  in  the  April 
starlight.  At  last  the  bells  began  to  chime,  promptly 
the  light  appeared,  and,  remembering  how  the  bell  of 
the  old  State  House  rang  out  the  glad  tidings  a  hundred 
years  ago,  John  waved  his  cherished  parcel,  joyfully 
exclaiming,  "Independence  is  declared!  ring!  ring! 


PEACE  IS  DECLARED.  303 

ring ! "  then  raced  across  the  park  like  another  Paul 
Revere  when  the  signal  light  shone  in  the  steeple  of 
the  old  North  Church. 

Next  morning  at  an  early  hour  a  carriage  drove  to 
Aunt  Maria's  door,  and  with  a  stern  farewell  from  her 
nightcapped  relative  Dolly  was  sent  forth  to  banish 
ment,  still  guarded  by  the  faithful  Cobb.  The  mutinous 
damsel  looked  pale  and  anxious,  but  departed  with  a 
friendly  adieu  and  waved  her  handkerchief  to  Tip,  dis 
consolate  upon  the  door-mat.  The  instant  they  turned 
the  corner,  however,  a  singular  transformation  took  place 
in  both  the  occupants  of  that  carriage ;  for  Dolly  caught 
Cobb  round  the  neck  and  kissed  her,  while  smiles  broke 
loose  on  either  face,  as  she  said  gleefully,  — 

"  You  dear  old  thing,  what  should  I  have  done  with 
out  you?  Am  I  all  right?  I  do  hope  it's  becoming. 
I  had  to  give  up  every  thing  else,  so  I  was  resolved  not 
to  be  married  without  a  new  bonnet." 

"  It's  as  sweet  as  sweet  can  be,  and  not  a  bit  the 
worse  for  being  smuggled  home  in  a  market-basket," 
returned  the  perjured  Cobb,  surveying  with  feminine 
pride  and  satisfaction  the  delicate  little  bonnet  which 
emerged  from  the  thick  veil  by  which  its  glories  had 
been  prudently  obscured. 

"  Here's  a  glass  to  see  it  in.  Such  a  nice  carriage, 
with  white  horses,  and  a  tidy  driver;  so  appropriate 
you  know.  It's  a  happy  accident,  and  I'm  so  pleased," 
prattled  the  girl,  looking  about  her  with  the  delight 
of  an  escaped  prisoner. 

"  Bless  your  heart,  Miss,  it's  all  Mr.  Harris's  doings : 
he's  been  dodging  round  the  corner  ever  since  daylight ; 
and  there  he  is  now,  I  do  declare.  I  may  as  well  go 


301  INDEPENDENCE. 

for  a  walk  till  your  train  is  off,  so  good-by,  and  the 
best  of  lucks,  my  dear." 

There  was  barely  time  for  this  brief  but  very  hearty 
congratulation,  when  a  remarkably  well-dressed  high 
wayman  stopped  the  carriage,  without  a  sign  of  resist 
ance  from  the  grinning  driver.  Cobb  got  out,  the 
ruffian,  armed  not  with  a  pistol,  but  a  great  bouquet  of 
white  roses,  got  in,  and  the  coach  went  on  its  way 
through  the  quiet  streets. 

"May  day,  and  here  are  your  flowers,  my  little 
queen." 

"Oh,  John!" 

A  short  answer,  but  a  very  eloquent  one,  when  ac 
companied  with  full  eyes,  trembling  lips,  and  a  face  as 
sweet  and  lovely  as  the  roses. 

It  was  quite  satisfactory  to  John ;  and,  having  slightly 
damaged  the  bridal  bonnet  without  reproof,  he,  man 
like,  mingled  bliss  and  business,  by  saying,  in  a  tone 
that  made  poetry  of  his  somewhat  confused  remarks,  — 

"Heaven  bless  my  wife!  We  ought  to  have  had  the 
Governor's  coach  to-day.  Isn't  Cobb  a  trump  to  get 
us  off  so  nicely  ?  Never  saw  a  woman  yet  who  could 
resist  the  chance  of  her  helping  on  a  wedding.  Remem 
bered  every  thing  I  told  her.  That  reminds  me. 
Wasn't  it  lucky  that  your  relics  were  boxed  up  in 
dear  Aunt  Maria's  shed,  so  all  Cobb  had  to  do  was  to 
alter  the  directions  and  send  them  off  to  Philadelphia 
instead  of  home  ?  " 

"  I've  been  in  a  tremble  for  three  days,  because  it 
seemed  as  if  it  couldn't  be  possible  that  so  much  hap 
piness  was  coming  to  me.  Are  you  quite  sure  you 
want  me,  John  ?  "  asked  Dolly,  careless  for  once  of  her 


PEACE  IS  DECLARED.  305 

rherishod  treasures ;  for  she  had  been  busy  with  hopes 
*nd  fears,  while  he  was  attending  to  more  material 
affairs. 

"  So  sure,  that  I've  got  something  here  to  bind  you 
with.     Do  you  mind  trying  it  on  to  see  if  it  fits,  fox 
I  had  to  guess  at  the  size,"  answered  John,  produc 
ing  his  talisman  with   all   a   bridegrocm's  pride   and 
eagerness. 

u  Please  let  me  wear  that  as  a  guard,  and  use  this 
one  to  be  married  with.  I've  a  superstition  about  it, 
for  it  suits  us  and  the  year  better  than  any  other ; "  and 
Dolly  laid  the  little  ring  of  reddish  gold  beside  the 
heavier  one  in  John's  palm. 

"  So  it  does,  and  you  shall  have  it  as  you  like.  Do 
you  know,  when  you  showed  it  to  me  three  months 
ago,  I  had  a  fancy  that  it  would  be  the  proper  thing 
for  me  to  put  it  on  your  finger ;  but  I  didn't  dream  I 
ever  should.  Are  you  very  certain  that  you  don't 
regret  the  advice  you  gave  my  friend  Jack  ? "  asked 
the  young  man,  thinking  with  fond  solicitude  of  the 
great  experiment  that  lay  before  them ;  for  he  knew  by 
experience  how  hard  this  world's  ways  sometimes  are, 
and  longed  to  smooth  the  rough  places  for  the  confiding 
little  creature  at  his  side. 

"  Do  I  look  as  if  I  did  ?  "  she  answered  simply,  but 
with  a  face  so  full  of  a  true  woman's  instinctive  faith 
in  the  power  of  love  to  lighten  labor,  sweeten  poverty, 
and  make  a  heaven  of  the  plainest  home,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  doubt  her  courage  or  fear  her  disloyalty. 

Quite  satisfied,  John  pocketed  the  rings  and  buttoned 
Dolly's  gloves,  saying,  while  she  buttoned  his,  both 
marvellously  enjoying  this  first  service  for  each  other 

90 


806  INDEPENDENCE. 

"  Almost  there  now,  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  we 
shall  be  so  safe  that  all  the  Aunt  Marias  in  Christendom 
can't  part  us  any  more.  George  has  stood  by  me  lik§ 
a  man  and  a  brother,  and  promised  that  every  thing 
Bhould  be  all  right.  The  church  will  look  a  trifle 
empty,  I  dare  say,  with  only  five  of  us  to  fill  it ;  but  I 
shall  like  it  better  than  being  made  a  spectacle  of;  so 
will  you,  I  fancy." 

"  The  church  ?  I  thought  runaways  were  married  in 
an  office,  by  a  justice,  and  without  much  ceremony  to 
make  it  solemn.  I'm  very  glad  it  isn't  so,  for  I  shall 
never  have  but  one  wedding,  and  I'd  love  to  have  it  in 
a  sacred  place,"  faltered  Dolly,  as  a  sudden  sense  of  all 
it  meant  came  over  her,  filling  her  girlish  heart  with 
tender  awe. 

"  I  knew  that,  dear,  and  so  I  did  my  best  to  make 
you  feel  no  lack  of  love,  as  I  could  not  give  you  any 
splendor.  I  wish  I  had  a  mother  to  be  with  you  to-day ; 
but  George  has  lent  me  his,  so  there  will  be  a  woman's 
arms  to  cry  in,  if  you  want  to  drop  a  tear ;  and  fatherly 
old  Dr.  King  will  give  you  to  the  happiest  man  alive. 
Well,  well,  my  Dolly,  if  you'd  rather,  cry  here,  and  then 
let  me  dry  your  tears,  as,  please  Heaven,  I  will  do  all 
your  life." 

"  So  kind,  John,  so  very  kind  !  I  can't  thank  you  in 
words,  but  I'll  show  by  deeds  how  much  I  honor,  trust, 
and  love  my  husband;"  and  nobly  Dolly  kept  her 
word. 

No  one  saw  them  as  they  went  in,  but  the  early 
Bunshine  made  a  golden  path  for  them  to  tread,  and 
the  May  wind  touched  them  with  its  balmy  kiss.  No 
congratulatory  clamor  greeted  them  as  they  came  out; 


PEACE  IS   DECLARED.  301 

but  the  friendly  sparrows  twittered  a  wedding  march, 
and  the  jovial  George  sent  them  merrily  away,  by  say 
ing,  as  he  gave  John's  hand  a  parting  grasp,  — 

"  I  was  right,  you  see,  and  there  is  a  Mrs.  Harris  ?  " 
If  any  one  doubts  it,  let  him  look  well  about  him, 
and  he  may  discover  the  best  thing  America  could 
send  to  her  Exposition :  an  old-fashioned  home,  and  in 
it  an  ambitious  man  who  could  not  be  bought,  a  beauti 
ful  woman  who  would  not  be  sold ;  a  young  couple 
happy  in  their  love  and  labor,  consecrating  this  cen 
tennial  year,  by  practising  the  old-fashioned  virtues, 
honesty  and  thrift,  independence  and  content. 


University  Press  :  John  Wilson  &  Son,  Cambridge. 


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handsome  box 12.00 

Miss  Alcott's  novels  in  uniform  bind 
ing  in  sets.  Moods;  Work  Hos 
pital  Sketches  ;  A  Modern  Mephis 
topheles,  and  A  Whisper  in  the 
Dark.  4  volumes.  i6mo  .  .  .  6.00 

Lulu's  Library.  Vols.  I.,  II., 
III.  A  collection  of  New  Stones. 
i6mo i-oo 


These  books  are  for  sale  at  all  bookstores,  or  will  be  mailed,  post-paid,  on 
receipt  of  price,  to  any  address. 

:j  ROBERTS  BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS, 

Post  on.  Mas* 


SUSAN    COOLIDGE'S 
POPULAR  STORY   BOOKS. 


SUSAN  COOLIDGE  has  always  possessed  the  affection  of  her  young  readers, 
for  it  seems  as  if  she  had  the  happy  instinct  of  planning  stories  that  each  girl 
would  like  to  act  out  in  reality.  —  The  Critic. 

Susan  Coolidge's  books  need  no  commending;  they  are  as  tempting  as  they 
are  sweet  and  pure.  She  knows  how  to  make  attractive  everything  she  touches  ; 
and  good  literature,  good  English,  does  not  suffer  at  her  hands,  while  the  refine 
ment  of  tone  and  moral  fibre  are  all  that  could  be  desired.  —  The  Literary 
World. 

Not  even  Miss  Alcott  apprehends  child  nature  with  finer  sympathy,  or  pic 
tures  its  nobler  traits  with  more  skill.  —  Boston  Daily  A  dvertiser. 


THE    NEW    YEAR'S    BARGAIN.     A  Christmas  Story  for 
Children.  With  Illustrations  by  ADDIE  LEDYARD.  i6mo.  $1.25. 

WHAT  KATY   DID.    A  Story.    With  Illustrations  by  ADDIE 
LEDYARD.     i6mo.    $1.25. 

WHAT    KATY    DID   AT    SCHOOL.      Being  more  about 

"What  Katy  Did."     With  Illustrations.     i6mo.     $1.25. 
MISCHIEF'S  THANKSGIVING,  and  other  Stories.     With 

Illustrations  by  ADDIE  LEDYARD.     i6mo.    $1.25. 
NINE    LITTLE    GOSLINGS.     With  Illustrations  by  J.  A. 

MITCHELL.     i6mo.    $1.25. 

EYEBRIGHT.     A  Story.     With  Illustrations.     i6mo.     $1.25. 
CROSS    PATCH.     With  Illustrations.     i6mo.    $1.25. 
A    ROUND    DOZEN.     With  Illustrations.     i6mo.     $1.25. 
A   LITTLE   COUNTRY  GIRL.     With  Illustrations.     i6mo. 

$1.25. 

WHAT  KATY  DID  NEXT.  With  Illustrations.  i6mo.  $1.25. 
CLOVER.   A  Sequel  to  the  Katy  Books.    With  Illustrations  by 

JESSIE  McDERMOTT.     i6mo.    $1.25. 
JUST   SIXTEEN.     With  Illustrations.     i6mo.    $1.25. 
A   GUERNSEY   LILY;    or,  How  the  Feud  was  Healed.    A 

Story  of  the    Channel    Islands.     Profusely   Illustrated.     One 

small  quarto  volume,  bound  in  illuminated  cloth.     $2.00. 


Sold  by  all  booksellers.     Mailed,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  price,  by 
the  publishers, 

ROBERTS    BROTHERS,    BOSTOV 


MR,  MALE'S  BOY  BOOKS, 


STORIES  OF  WAR, 

Told  by  Soldiers, 

STORIES  OF  THE  SEA, 

Told  by  Sailors. 

STORIES  OF  ADVENTURE, 

Told  by  Adventurers. 

STORIES  OF  DISCOVERY, 

Told  by  Discoverers. 

STORIES  OF  INVENTION, 

Told  by  Inventors. 


Collected  and  edited  by  EDWARD  E.  HALE.      i6mo, 
cloth,  black  and  gold.     Price,  $1.00  per  volume. 

For  sale  by  all  booksellers,   or  mailed,  post-paid,   on 
receipt  of  price  by  the  Publishers, 

ROBERTS   BROTHERS,  BOSTON. 


Messrs.  Roberts  Brothers'  Publications. 


MBS.  DODGE'S  POPULAK  BOOK 


A  PORTRAIT  OF  DOROTHY  AT  SIXTEEN. 

DONALD    AND    DOROTHY. 

BY   MARY   MAPES   DODGE. 

Beautifully  Illustrated  and  Bound.      Price  #1.50. 

An  honest  tribute  from  an  admiring  friend. 

"  DEAR  MRS.  DODGE,  —  I  have  just  finished  your  book  called  '  Donald  and 
Dorothy'  for  the  third  or  fourth  time,  and  would  like  very  much  to  know 
whether  Dorothy  is  a  real  person,  and  if  so,  what  is  her  name  ?  I  am  nearlj 
as  old  as  Dorothy  was  at  the  close  of  the  book,  so  am  very  much  interested 
m  her.  I  would  also  like  to  know  how  old  she  is,  and  where  she  lives.  If  you 
wuld  be  kind  enough  to  reply,  you  would  greatly  oblige 

"  Your  admiring  friend," 

ROBERTS   BROTHERS,   PUBLISHERS,   BOSTON 


THE   FAVOEITE   AUTEGB, 


LOUISA  M.  ALCOTT, 

HER    LIFE,    LETTERS,    AND    JOURNALS. 

EDITED  BY  EDNAH   D.  CHENEY. 

With  PORTRAITS  and  View  of  the  ALCOTT  HOME  in  Concord. 

One  vol.   161110.    Uniform  with  "  Little  Women." 

Price,  $1.50. 

Mrs.  Cheney  has  allowed  this  popular  author  to  tell  the  story  of  her  early 
struggles,  her  successes,  and  prosperity  and  life  work,  in  her  own  inimitable  style, 
gracefully 'weaving  the  daily  record  of  this  sweet  and  useful  life  into  a  garland  of 
immortelles,  in  a  manner  at  once  pleasing  and  within  the  comprehension  of  the 
thousands  of  readers  and  admirers  of  Miss  Alcott's  books.  It  might  truly  be 
called  the  biography  ot  "Little  Women." 


A  most  fascinating  as  well  as  a  deeply  pathetic  book.  The  story,  —  the  long,  hard 
struggle  for  money  to  keep  the  household  in  comfort,  and  the  well-earned  success  coming, 
Jtlas,  too  late  to  save  her  health,  —  is  delightfully  told  in  her  own  words,  from  letters  and 
journals,  so  that  we  have  the  bright,  the  witty,  and  the  always  charming  personality  of  the 
children's  author  before  us  from  the  first  page  to  the  last.  We  have  to  thank  Mrs.  Cheney 
that  she  hid  not  from  us  the  hard,  grinding  toil,  nor  spared  us  the  record  of  one  discour 
agement  in  the  life  so  interesting  to  us;  for  in  this  narrative  we  have  a  valuable  lesson 
for  the  young  writer  of  our  day.  —  The  Epoch. 

One  who  knew  Miss  Alcott  well  says  :  "  Nobody  can  read  of  the  struggles  of  the 
Alcott  family,  and  of  the  tender  yet  resolute  heroism  with  which  Miss  Alcott  met  and 
relieved  them,  without  being  touched  to  tears  by  the  pathos  and  reality  of  the  picture. 
Louisa  Alcott  was  not  a  member  of  any  church  ;  but  her  belief  in  God,  her  loyalty  to  con 
science,  her  fidelity  to  duty,  her  rescue  of  the  Alcott  family  from  its  peculiar  perils,  place 
her  among  the  women  saints  of  the  century,  and  it  will  be  hard  to  find  any  one  of  her  sex 
who  has  more  faithfully  responded  to  the  duties  of  the  position  in  which  God  had  placed 
her."  —  Cincinnati  Commercial  Gazette. 

Louisa  May  Alcott  is  withou.  a  rival  as  a  writer  for  the  young.  The  millions  who  have 
read  her  stories — and  been  made  better  by  the  reading  —  will  want  this  book  that  they  may 
get  near  the  inner  life,  the  fruitful  source  of  their  entertainment  and  profit.  They  will  see 
that  purity,  simplicity,  love,  earnestness,  and  patience  were  so  interwoven  with  her  genius 
thai  her  stories  were  the  natural  outgrowth  of  her  beautiful  character.  The  book  needs 
no  commendation  from  us.  Every  reader  of  her  stories  will  be  glad  to  know  that  they 
may  now  become  intimately  acquainted  with  that  beautiful  life  which  is  here  brought  out 
of  its  long  cherished  seclusion.  —  Saturday  Evening  Herald. 


ROBERTS   BROTHERS,   PUBLISHERS, 
BOSTON. 


SUSAN  COOLIDGE'S  NEW  BOOK. 


GUERNSEY    LILY; 

OR, 

CHILDREN  IN  THE  CHANNEL  ISLANDS 


BY 

SUSAN   COOLIDGE, 

AUTHOR   OF    "  WHAT   KATY   DID,"    ETC. 


Profusely  illustrated  and  bound  in  illuminated  clo*>.     One  small 
quarto  volume.    Price  $2.00. 


ROBERTS   BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS, 
Boston. 


The  sparrow  again  waited  until  the  child  had  almost  reached  him." 


SPARROW  THE  TRAMP.    ^  f£ 

.*       HOEFT.     With  illustrations  by  Jessie  McDermott.     Price,  $1.25. 


RORF/RTS 


.TC.c;.    PTim.T.SHF.RS.    BOSTON 


NONSENSE  BOOKS. 


THERE  WAS  AN  OLD  DERRY  DOWN  DERRY,"  ETC. 


By   EDWARD 


COMPRISING 

"A   BOOK   OF   NONSENSE," 

"NONSENSE  SONGS,  STORIES,"  ETC. 

"MORE    NONSENSE    PICTURES,   RHYMES,"   ETC 

"LAUGHABLE    LYRICS,"    ETC. 

With  all   the  original   illustrations.     In    one    square    i6mo  vol 
ume.     Handsome  cloth.     Price,  $2.00. 


ROBERTS    BROTHERS,   Publishers, 


14  DAY  USE 

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